EVMs "malfunctioning or voting for the BJP," says Akhilesh

On Tuesday, April 23, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said that EVMs were "malfunctioning or voting for the BJP" across the country, calling it "criminal negligence."

“EVMs across India malfunctioning or voting for the BJP. DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs Rs 50,000 crs. Should we believe DMs @ECISVEEP, or is something far more sinister afoot?” In a tweet, Yadav tagged the Election Commission.

Yadav told reporters after casting his ballot in Saifai (Etawah) that the EC should look into complaints of EVM malfunctions in Rampur and Badaun as well.

"I have come to know that a state minister is trying to influence polling in Badaun, where his daughter is contesting. Officers are saying that EVMs are not running for lack of proper training of officials. Is this digital India being promised by the government?" he posed.

"Netaji (Mulayam Singh) will win with a record margin," he predicted for the Mainpuri seat.

He added Akshay Yadav is winning convincingly in Firozabad, where his uncle Shivpal Yadav is running against SP candidate Akshay Yadav.

The BJP and its partners would lose in the third round, according to Akhilesh Yadav, who also stated that people had decided against the BJP.

Meanwhile, a team from the Samajwadi Party, led by party leader and MLC Rajendra Chowdhury, met with UP Chief Electoral Officer L Venkateshwar in Lucknow to speak about reported anomalies in EVMs in Rampur and the alleged role of a UP minister in Badaun.

When asked for his thoughts, Additional Chief Electoral Officer B R Tiwari said an SP delegation had registered objections alleging that UP cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya was attempting to sway voters in favor of his daughter, BJP candidate Sanghmitra Maurya, in Badaun.

The SP delegation also claimed that EVMs were not working in Rampur and that the police were not cooperating with voters, according to him.