India, the world’s largest democracy, faced intense scrutiny during its 2024 general elections, which garnered significant international media attention. This spotlight has underscored the nation’s growing global influence and, concurrently, cast a critical eye on its democratic processes. The Indian National Congress (INC) has persistently levelled accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the ruling party has engaged in various forms of electoral manipulation. These accusations include claims of voter suppression, electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering, and strategic media control, painting a grim picture of the integrity of India’s electoral process.
One of the central allegations against the BJP involves the manipulation of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The Congress party and other opposition groups have voiced deep mistrust towards EVMs, questioning their reliability and security. Despite the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) assurances about the robustness of these machines, the opposition’s calls for a return to paper ballots highlight a significant divide in trust between the ruling party and its critics. This mistrust has been amplified by the BJP’s unexpected and overwhelming victories, which the opposition attributes to potential tampering. Although the ECI reported resolving nearly all complaints related to EVM violations promptly, scepticism persists. The challenge lies in balancing the technological........

© Daily Times