Akhilesh Yadav Revives Ballot Paper Demand, Targets EVMs and BJP Ahead of UP Political Battle

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday once again raised questions over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), demanding that elections in India should be conducted through traditional ballot papers.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Lucknow, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister called upon party workers to prepare for a prolonged struggle against what he described as a “multilayered election mafia” to safeguard democracy and the Constitution.

Projecting confidence about the opposition alliance’s prospects in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh asserted that the INDIA bloc would remain united and would defeat the BJP with the support of the people.

However, he maintained that the Samajwadi Party’s campaign against EVMs would continue relentlessly, even if it took “years or a century” to achieve its goal.

Interestingly, while questioning the credibility of EVMs, Akhilesh also acknowledged that his party had defeated the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections using the same machines.

“The Samajwadi Party defeated the BJP through EVMs and will do so again,” he said, adding in the same breath that the party would continue efforts to remove EVMs from the electoral process altogether.

Drawing a comparison with smart electricity meters introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government, the SP chief alleged that technology could be manipulated.

He claimed that smart meters continue running even during power cuts and can allegedly be operated remotely. “If smart meters can be controlled this way, then why can’t EVMs be manipulated?” he asked.

Without directly naming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Akhilesh took an indirect swipe at organisations associated with the BJP, accusing them of creating confusion and influencing the electoral process.

Referring to the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he alleged that voter names were deliberately deleted from electoral rolls and claimed affidavits had been submitted to the Election Commission regarding the issue, though no officials were allegedly held accountable.

He also criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alleging that it was being used to remove voters’ names. According to him, the Samajwadi Party is now closely examining voter lists across Uttar Pradesh to detect irregularities.

The SP leader further accused the Election Commission of not sharing technical details regarding the software used in EVMs. He claimed that voter deletions had also occurred on a large scale in West Bengal under the guise of correcting errors.

“The BJP is not only looting people’s rights but also looting votes,” he alleged.

Alongside attacking the BJP on electoral issues, Akhilesh made a series of welfare promises.

He announced that if the Samajwadi Party returns to power in Uttar Pradesh, education for girls from kindergarten to postgraduate level would be made completely free.

He also highlighted the cancer institute established during the SP government at a cost of ₹1,000 crore and promised free cancer treatment under a future Samajwadi Party regime.

On economic issues, the SP chief accused the BJP government of favouring industrialists and burdening ordinary citizens through smart electricity meters.

He alleged that the government failed to increase electricity production while collecting higher bills from consumers through the new meter system.

He reiterated his promise that up to 300 units of electricity would be provided free if the Samajwadi Party forms the next government in Uttar Pradesh.

Akhilesh also aimed for the inauguration of the Noida International Airport, alleging that the aviation facility was developed primarily for private business interests.

However, political observers note that the debate over ballot papers versus EVMs is far from new in Indian politics.

Critics of the SP’s standpoint out that during the era of ballot paper elections, incidents of booth capturing, ballot box looting, voter intimidation, and distribution of sarees, liquor, cash, and gifts before polling were not uncommon in several parts of the country.

Many leaders who today demand a return to ballot papers had once accused rivals and even election authorities of replacing or tampering with ballot boxes after defeats.

Supporters of EVMs also argue that the machines were introduced precisely to reduce large-scale rigging and malpractice associated with paper ballots. Over the years, the Election Commission and the judiciary have repeatedly defended the credibility of the system.

The Supreme Court of India has on multiple occasions upheld the use of EVMs and even invited experts and political parties to demonstrate how the machines could allegedly be hacked under real election conditions.

Despite repeated allegations from various political parties over the years, no conclusive proof of large-scale EVM tampering has ever been established.

Yet, the political controversy surrounding EVMs refuses to fade.

As Uttar Pradesh gradually moves towards another high-stakes electoral contest, the issue is once again emerging as a key talking point in the battle between the ruling BJP and opposition parties seeking to mobilise public opinion on electoral transparency and democratic trust.