Mayawati alleges tampering of EVMs

Dismissing the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly elections results on Saturday, Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati alleged 'tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs) by BJP' and also called for fresh polls.

She held the saffron party responsible for BSP's decimal performance in both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Dalit leaders who had appealed to the Muslim community for votes in several political rallies questioned her party's defeat in the assembly segments which are considered stronghold of the minority community.

"Either the EVMs did not accept votes other than BJP, or the votes of other parties have gone to BJP in the EVMs," alleged Mayawati. Following the results declared in Uttar Pradesh, BJP secured 312 out of 403 seats while BSP bagged only 19.

She also stated, "Most of the votes in the Muslims-majority assembly segments have gone to BJP. This proves that the voting machines were manipulated."

Categorically challenging the BJP's National President Amit Shah for re-poll, Mayawati said, "If you are honest, ask the poll panel to re-conduct polls with the ballot paper."