Sharad Pawar holds EVMs responsible for Maharashtra poll rout but has no evidence
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday alleged irregularities in the votes recorded through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
However, he admitted that he currently lacks evidence to support this claim.
Pawar said there was a discrepancy in the votes from EVMs but admitted he had no proof to substantiate it.
He said that some people had requested a recount and assured that whatever was feasible in the matter would be done.
"Some people have applied for recounting. Let's see what happens in that, but I do not have much hope from this," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
After suffering a near wipe out in the recent Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand as well as in Jammu Kashmir last month, the Congress accused the Election Commission of undermining the "integrity of the entire electoral process" and declared plans to launch a "national movement" in response.
"The Congress Working Committee (CWC) believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take up these public concerns as a national movement," the Congress said in a statement.
The Election Commission rejected the Congress's allegations but added that it was ready to discuss the matter with a party delegation scheduled for December 3.