Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is in the election fray from the Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency, his home turf, after over 30 years.
Mr. Singh has been a vocal critic of conducting elections using electronic voting machines (EVMs) and has raised several questions about the process. He even blamed the Congress’ defeat in the 2023 State Assembly elections on the EVMs. The Supreme Court, recently in a judgement, upheld the EVM polling system and underscored the need to “exercise care and caution” when raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
In an interview with The Hindu, the 77-year-old Congress veteran says that while he is yet to study the Supreme Court’s verdict, the Election Commission of India has not answered the basic questions concerning the EVMs and its software. “The whole issue is that the chances of manipulation through the software is very likely and can’t be ruled out. This by itself disturbs the whole mandate of the people,” Mr. Singh said. He also hit out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over issues like mangalsutra, machhli (fish), meat, Muslims.
