EC helping BJP win elections, says Kejriwal

Launching an attack on the Election Commission over alleged manipulation of electronic voting machines (EVM), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that the poll body was acting like "Dhritarashtra" to help son "Duryodhana" (BJP) win the polls.

He alleged that the Commission's only intention was to bring the BJP to power in poll-bound states and that is why it was not paying heed to his request to investigate defective EVMs.

Kejriwal's accusation comes a day after media reports stated that a few machines, used during the bypoll in Rajasthan's Dholpur, may have been "tampered with".

Accusing the Election Commission of "overlooking" complaints of alleged EVM manipulation, Kejriwal linked the Commission to Mahabharata's character Dhritarashtra.

"As Dhritarashtra used to help his son Duryodhana grab power, the Election Commission is similarly helping the BJP in getting power by using all means possible (through Saam Daam Dand Bhed)," he claimed.

Addressing a press conference at his official residence, Kejriwal alleged that both the Election Commission and the BJP are "toying with democracy", which the people of country will not tolerate.

He claimed that in the April 23 MCD elections, "malfunctioning EVMs are being brought from Rajasthan to conduct the civic body polls".

"There are three generations of EVMs. First were used before 2006 while the second generation EVMs were used between 2006 and 2013 and third generation EVMs are being used after 2013. I have got to know that Delhi State Election Commission (SEC) wants to conduct MCD polls through first generation EVMs which raises doubts over the intention of SEC," Kejriwal said.

Questioning the Election Commission over the use first generation EVMs in the upcoming civic polls in Delhi, AAP has sought an explanation from the State Election Commission of Delhi about use of voting machines which are more susceptible of tampering.

On Monday, an AAP delegation led by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia met the State Election Commissioner of Delhi and gave him a memorandum in this regard.