A significant survey conducted by the Congress-led government in Karnataka has ignited a fresh political debate in India. The survey claims that 91% of the state's population believes that elections in India are conducted in a free and fair manner, and that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) deliver accurate results. These findings have provided the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with a potent opportunity to criticize the Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi, who has frequently questioned the reliability of EVMs and the fairness of the electoral process.
Key Findings of the Survey
The survey, titled "Lok Sabha Elections 2024 – Endline Survey on Citizens' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Evaluation," was published by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority (KMEA), while it gathered opinions from 5,100 individuals across 102 assembly constituencies in the state. According to the survey, 91. 31% of respondents believed that elections in India are fair. Also, 83. 61% of people expressed trust in EVMs, an increase from 77. 9% in 2023, indicating a growing confidence in the accuracy of these machines among citizens. The survey also noted that among the 4,272 individuals included in the voter list, a vast majority (95. 44%) confirmed that their names were correctly listed.
Congress's Stance and BJP's Accusation
Immediately after the survey results were released, the BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, while bJP leader Suresh Kumar stated that the survey conducted in Karnataka is sufficient to demonstrate that EVMs are the most reliable and effective medium in a democratic system. He emphasized that these findings have exposed the 'hollow claims' made by Rahul Gandhi, who has often accused 'vote theft' and EVM tampering. The BJP asserts that this survey directly refutes Gandhi's allegations.
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP's national spokesperson, took to X (formerly Twitter) to state that while Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the. Lok Sabha, continues to spread 'lies' about EVMs and the Election Commission of India (ECI), his own government in Karnataka has 'fact-checked' him. Poonawalla highlighted that the survey claims voters in Karnataka trust EVMs and believe that elections in India are free and fair. He further pointed out that the survey found 84. 55% of citizens agreed that elections in India are conducted freely and fairly across all divisions.
EVMs and Democratic Trust
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, BJP leader R. Ashok, also cited the survey to target Rahul Gandhi, calling it a 'slap on the face of Congress. ' He argued that the old party is merely displaying its insecurity by doubting EVMs and the Election Commission. Ashok posted on X, "This drama isn't born out of concern for democracy, while it's happening out of fear of the verdict. Congress questions institutions only when it loses. When it wins, it celebrates the same system. This isn't politics of principles. This is politics of convenience. " This statement accuses the Congress of adopting double standards, praising EVMs and the ECI when victorious, but questioning them when defeated.
Political Implications of the Survey
This survey comes at a time when there is an ongoing debate among political parties. Regarding the fairness of the electoral process and the reliability of EVMs in the country. Several opposition parties, including the Congress, have long raised doubts about EVMs, while the ruling BJP and the Election Commission have consistently defended their credibility. The results of this survey, conducted by a Congress-led state government, could create an uncomfortable situation for the party, as it represents an official assessment from their own state that contradicts the claims of their top leader, while the survey is undoubtedly set to remain a significant point of discussion in political discourse for the foreseeable future.
