Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has raised concerns over the ongoing debate surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), diverging from the stance taken by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. While Kharge and several other political leaders have repeatedly questioned the reliability of EVMs in ensuring free and fair elections, Tharoor has suggested that the problem does not lie with the machines themselves, but with the broader systemic issues within the electoral framework.
In a recent statement, Tharoor highlighted that the machinery behind the EVMs is not the root cause of electoral discrepancies. Instead, he emphasized the need to address issues such as electoral transparency, political influence, and the management of polling processes. According to Tharoor, improving the system that surrounds the use of EVMs, including voter education and strict monitoring of election commissions, would be a more effective way to ensure a credible and fair election process.
Tharoor’s remarks come at a time when the debate around EVMs continues to intensify, with some political parties claiming that the machines can be tampered with, undermining the integrity of elections. Tharoor, however, has urged that the focus should shift from blaming the technology to identifying and rectifying the flaws in the electoral process that leave room for manipulation.
As the debate on EVMs continues to shape political discourse in India, Tharoor’s view offers a distinct perspective, calling for a deeper look into the systemic reforms needed to strengthen the democratic process.
