Hardik fuels fears of BJP tampering with EVMs

Ahmedabad: After the unprecedented mobilising of people against the ruling BJP ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader, Hardik Patel, continued to fuel fears about EVM tampering through multiple tweets asking the people to remain alert so that the ruling BJP does not make any attempt to cheat.

His alerts seems to have had an impact on Patidar community members as many Patels responded by circulating messages of possible EVM tampering and cautioning the Patidars to stay alert. Some of the messages were also provocative in nature, including a video message by a Congress candidate from Karjan in Vadodara.

In one of the tweets, Hardik says: “If the BJP loses the Gujarat polls, it will be the party’s nemesis. BJP can win Gujarat election only through EVM tampering; it will (deliberately) win Gujarat and lose Himachal Pradesh so that no doubts are raised.”

Hardik said that the BJP may rig the EVMs on Saturday and Sunday night. “They cannot win more than 82 seats if the BJP does not rig EVMs,” he said.

Talking to TOI, Hardik said: “I see the BJP losing the polls and I believe that the Congress will get a clear majority. If the BJP wins the polls, this will be nothing but a clear case of EVM tampering.”

He also wondered why the EVMs were kept for 5-7 days after the polls. Hardik apprehended that during this time the machines could be tampered with. “EVMs were brought in to expedite the election process and avoid delays. Now, it is better to have ballot papers back in polls,” Hardik said.

Meanwhile, the Congress candidate from Karjan in Vadodara district, Akshay Patel, posted a video on social media saying that the BJP should be ready for public anger if it wins the election.

“I, Akshay Patel, candidate of assembly seat number 147, throw an open challenge that if the Congress loses the polls — which is possible only through EVM tampering (by the BJP) — then the people will come out on roads and the situation will go out of countrol. People are already angry (with the BJP). If any tampering is done, then riots will be take place across the state,” Akshay Patel said.