Mayawati charges votes going in BJP's account due to EVM malfunction

Lucknow Apr 12 Alleging that EVM malfunction during the first phase of polling resulted in votes cast going in BJP's account, BSP chief Mayawati asked the Election Commission to take a serious note of this and initiate steps to check its recurrence in the staying six phases of the general elections.

She said that if the poll panel does not initiate any strict step, the ongoing election process "would be of no utilization" and trusted that something solid will be done in such manner.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls started Thursday with an expected 9 crore people coming out to vote in favor of choosing 91 parliamentarians in the primary period of over-a-month-long polling exercise.

"I was told that in the first phase yesterday, police and official machinery was misused besides malfunctioning in EVMs as a result of which the votes being cast for elephant were going in the record of lotus (BJP's poll symbol)," the BSP chief said in a statement here.

She said the matter was brought to EC's notice Thursday itself and the poll panel "needs to find a solution to people's satisfaction" to guarantee that there is no complaint in this regard in the remaining phases of polling.

Incidents of EVM malfunctioning have also been reported in the media, Mayawati stated, while also alleging that in some places Dalits were ceased from coming to polling booths by use of batons against them and by firing in the air.

She also appealed to the BSP workers, agents and supporters to stay careful while casting their votes and check the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine and complain to the election observer in case of any irregularity.