BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for making false claims about the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Poonawalla highlighted a survey conducted by the Congress-led government in Karnataka that contradicts Gandhi’s assertions. According to the survey, a majority of respondents across all administrative divisions believe that elections in India are conducted fairly and freely.
Poonawalla emphasized that the survey revealed a high level of trust in the electoral process in India. He noted that 84.55% of citizens agreed that elections are conducted transparently. Additionally, the survey indicated a significant increase in trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The survey findings showed that 83.61% of citizens considered EVMs to be reliable, marking an increase from 77.9% in the past. The survey, which covered 5,100 respondents across 102 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru, was commissioned by Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The study, conducted by the Mysuru-based research organization GRAAM (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement), focused on citizens’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) regarding the electoral process. The survey’s results were published by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority under the Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring, and Statistics.
These survey results may challenge the Congress party, particularly as Rahul Gandhi has been leading a campaign accusing the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of election manipulation. The survey also highlighted varying opinions on whether women needed to consult male family members or elders before voting, with mixed responses among the respondents.
