The bold decision by the Election Commission to throw an open challenge to political parties to prove their claims that EVMs can be tampered with should take the wind out of the sails of parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party, whose top leaders have been shouting themselves hoarse levelling allegations (“EVM hackathon from June 3”, May 21). A constitutional body such as the ECI opting to nail the lie of the doubting Thomases is an unprecedented step in Indian electoral history and shows the confidence with which it has approached an issue that threatens to undermine its credibility. The EC’s stock will certainly rise once it succeeds in putting all doubts to rest. Some of our political parties are in for a shock.
C.V. Aravind,
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Bengaluru
The EVM debate is a sign of lowering standards in Indian politics. It is one thing to argue for electoral reforms but quite another to resort to a campaign to malign the democratic process in order to cover up electoral losses. No matter what reforms the EC brings in, parties can always shift the goalposts to continue their smear campaign. In these times of post-truth, where Twitter and WhatsApp messages are used as “credible evidence”, it is the responsibility of the national media to take the lead in establishing the facts and ensuring that misinformation does not derail the mainstream narrative.
Nakshatra Singh,
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New Delhi
While it is obvious for anyone losing to cry foul, the EC’s attempt to be transparent should also be used as an occasion to make the political parties concerned apologise should they be proved wrong. With the VVPAT EVMs finding a place in the next Assembly and general elections, one hopes that the trend of ridiculing the EC and EVMs will end.
Praveen Patavardhan,
Bengaluru
The raging controversy over the functioning of EVMs is unnecessary as it has been clarified time and again by the Election Commission — credited with holding free and fair elections across the country and even earning accolades worldwide for conducting elections successfully and smoothly — that it is only a futile exercise to defame the EC. Why try and bring disrepute to the august institution by unscrupulous politicians who are defeatists to the core?
V. Padmanabhan,
Bengaluru