Amid criticism of the Election Commission during the Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition INDIA bloc has continued their criticism in Parliament. Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party stated that he does not trust EVMs even if he wins all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while Congress's K C Venugopal called the ECI a "frontal organization" of the BJP. RJD's Manoj Jha also questioned the credibility of the ECI, comparing it to the village head in the popular TV series "Panchayat". The Opposition had previously targeted the EC over allegations of "faulty" electoral rolls and delay in turnout data, with the CEC stating the result was a vindication of the poll panel's impartiality.
In the second day of the new Lok Sabha session, 281 Members, including all 80 MPs from Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, take oath as MPs. Dimple Yadav, fourth-term Lok Sabha Member and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, arrives at the Parliament House in a joyful mood to be sworn-in as an MP. Yesterday, only 262 Members, including PM Modi and his Council of Ministers, were sworn-in as MPs. Ahead of taking oath, Akhilesh Yadav takes a dig at Yogi Adityanath-led state government and brings up the contentious issue of EVM malfunctions.
In a recent post on the social media platform X, tech mogul Elon Musk sparked a heated discussion when he suggested that the use of electronic voting machines should be eliminated due to their vulnerability to hacking. This comes in response to issues raised by former US President John F. Kennedy's nephew regarding the potential for electronic interference in Puerto Rico's primary elections. However, Indian Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar quickly countered Musk's statement, arguing that India's custom-built EVMs are secure and reliable. The debate continues on whether paper ballots should replace electronic voting machines to ensure fair and hack-proof elections.
A war of words between former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Tesla CEO Elon Musk played out on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, as the two expressed opposing views on electronic voting machines (EVMs). While Musk had advocated for the elimination of EVMs due to the risk of being hacked, Chandrasekhar defended the secure and custom-designed EVMs used in India which are isolated from any network or media. Chandrasekhar strongly countered Musk's "huge sweeping generalisation" and provided context about the security measures in place for Indian EVMs.
Following recent remarks made by Elon Musk regarding the elimination of EVMs, Opposition leaders have expressed doubts about the credibility and transparency of India's electoral process. Congress's Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have both called for greater scrutiny and accountability of EVMs, with Gandhi going so far as to say that democracy becomes a "sham" without these measures. With allegations of tampering and the reluctance of BJP to use ballot papers, the use of technology in elections has come under scrutiny and experts are calling for greater oversight.
In a scathing attack on India's use of electronic voting machines, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed serious concerns about the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. He cited reports of alleged EVM manipulation and a post by tech mogul Elon Musk advocating for their elimination. Opposition parties have also consistently raised issues with EVMs, calling for a full count of VVPAT slips, but their demands have been denied.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns over the opacity and lack of scrutiny in India's electoral process, citing a post by Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk advocating for the elimination of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). This comes amidst a controversy in Maharashtra where a relative of a Shiv Sena candidate was found using a phone connected to the EVM, leading to demands for a full count of VVPAT slips and a call for use of traditional paper ballots by opposition parties.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar have responded to tech billionaire Elon Musk's recent comments regarding the elimination of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India. While Gandhi raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in India's electoral process, Chandrasekhar defended the security protocols of Indian EVMs, stating that they are custom-designed, secure, and isolated from any network or media. The opposition parties have been demanding a 100% count of VVPAT slips, but their request was denied.
Tech mogul Elon Musk's recent tweet advocating for paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines has sparked a heated debate on social media. While some, like BJP leader Rajeev Chandra Shekhur, have defended the security of Indian EVMs, others, like Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, have pointed to vulnerabilities such as the ability to unlock EVMs with a mobile phone. The controversy highlights the ongoing concerns about the safety and integrity of electronic voting systems.
In a response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s call to eliminate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has stated that his views do not apply to India. Mr. Chandrasekhar asserted that Indian EVMs are custom-designed, secure, and isolated from any network, unlike regular compute platforms used in other countries. This comes after the news of voting discrepancies in Puerto Rico’s primary elections, which led to a review of the contract with U.S. electronic voting company Dominion Voting Systems.