Himanta Biswa Sarma Challenges Congress Over Ballot Paper Elections

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has challenged the Congress over its criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying he is ready to contest elections using paper ballots under a specific condition. His remarks came amid an ongoing political debate over election procedures and allegations of irregularities.

Sarma said Congress governments in Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala should resign if they believe elections conducted through EVMs during Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure were affected by irregularities. He argued that Congress should apply its criticism of the electoral system consistently, including in states where the party won elections.

The statement comes as Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have raised concerns about the electoral process. Opposition parties have questioned aspects of voter-list revisions and demanded greater accountability from the Election Commission.

Sarma criticised the Congress campaign against EVMs, arguing that the party questions the machines when election results do not favour it but accepts them when it wins. These remarks reflect the political disagreement between the BJP and Congress over the credibility of India’s electoral process.

The dispute has also drawn attention to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the exercise, while the Election Commission’s procedures and the allegations surrounding them remain subjects of political debate.

Sarma’s proposal was framed as a political challenge rather than an announced change to election rules. His statement has added to the continuing debate over whether India should use EVMs or return to paper ballots, but his allegations do not independently establish that electoral fraud occurred in the states he named.