The Karnataka BJP has accused the state government, led by CM Siddaramaiah, of intentionally creating distrust among people by opting for ballot papers over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in local body polls. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra criticized the government’s move, labeling it as political opportunism aimed at promoting a convenient narrative. He highlighted that after casting doubts on national democratic institutions with the “vote chori” slogan, the government seems determined to sow similar distrust within Karnataka.
Vijayendra emphasized that the decision to switch to ballot papers is not about enhancing democracy but rather about fabricating suspicion where none exists. He pointed out the inconsistency in using EVMs for previous elections that favored the ruling party, questioning why they are now deemed unreliable for local body polls. According to him, this selective reasoning exposes the hypocrisy behind the government’s decision to revert to traditional voting methods.
The BJP leader further criticized the move as regressive, emphasizing that it undermines electoral integrity and perpetuates a discredited narrative. He cited the Supreme Court’s consistent endorsement of EVM security and credibility over the years, noting that India’s adoption of EVMs aimed to eliminate issues like booth capturing and vote manipulation. Reintroducing ballot papers, in his view, risks reintroducing past electoral challenges that the country had worked hard to overcome.
Vijayendra asserted that Karnataka deserves effective governance, not political gimmicks. He argued that if EVMs were deemed suitable for bringing the Congress party to power, they should also be deemed appropriate for local elections. He characterized the government’s decision as a deliberate attempt to sow chaos to further narrow political interests rather than genuine reform efforts.
The Karnataka government’s plan to introduce a Bill in the upcoming Budget Session of the legislature to facilitate the transition from EVMs to ballot papers for local polls follows its decision to revert to traditional voting methods. The state cabinet approved the introduction of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to eliminate EVMs for local polls in villages and return to the use of ballot papers.
