Fearing defeat, opposition blaming EVMs: Shahnawaz Hussain

Leaders from 21 opposition parties had approached the Supreme Court demanding a minimum of 50% of votes cast in Lok Sabha polls, 2019, be verified with a paper trail, ratcheting up their criticism of manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) just a few days after polling began in April.

New Delhi: Taking a dig at the opposition, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday said that the opposition parties have started blaming Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after the exit polls predicted a clean sweep by the saffron party.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Hussain said, "we had already predicted that until the elections are over they would malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image and post-poll they would blame the Election Commission and the EVMs for their defeat."

He added, "they won't retrospect the reason for their defeat, they will simply blame the EVM."

Targeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his tweet criticising the Election Commission (EC) for having played at the hands of the BJP led central government in Lok Sabha polls, 2019, Hussain said, "Rahul Gandhi had 'exited' the election much before the exit polls predicted Congress' defeat, which is why he tweeted targeting the Election Commission. He is panicking because the exit polls have predicted his defeat."

Taking a swipe at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making efforts to forge a united front ahead of the counting on May 23, the national spokesperson said, "Chandrababu Naidu is distributing sweets and flowers, it is like "begaani shaadi mein Abdullah diwana" (a stranger getting too much involved and excited in somebody else's marriage)."

"Let him roam around, it won't make much of a difference," added Hussain.

In 2014, the BJP with 282 seats got a clear majority on its own and the Congress was reduced to 44, less than 1/10th, which as per the existing norms does not allow it to claim the post of Leader of Opposition.