Kejriwal not even listening to his 'guru' Anna Hazare: BJP on EVM row

Mocking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for putting the onus on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the dismal show of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the recent Punjab Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that Arvind Kejriwal does not even listen to his guru Anna Hazare.

"Kejriwal is not a man of his word; he does not even listen to his guru Anna Hazare. Hazare's statement is true, that when great technological advancement is taking place, returning to ballot papers will be a retrograde step. So then why to waste time and money," BJP leader R P Singh told ANI.

Singh further said that the Delhi Chief Minister should focus on the affairs related to the national capital rather than making lame statements about the EVMs and ballots.

"He has always lied. Why the public will support him? He should introspect. If he is so worried about Uttar Pradesh and its results then why did they lose in Goa and Punjab, has he thought about that?," Singh added.

Kejriwal earlier alleged that the EVMs were tampered during the recently conducted assembly polls in the five states which ultimately resulted in his party's dismal show especially in Punjab.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal suggested that the Election Commission needs to relook at the use of EVMs in the electoral process until faith is restored in it.

"Many said that there is anger against the Akalis and AAP is sweeping polls, still AAP got 25 percent votes and SAD got 31 percent votes. How is it possible? Even in Malwa, we got thrashed and Congress won there. How is it possible?" Kejriwal asked.

Kejriwal further said is it possible through the EVMs that 20-25 percent vote share meant for the AAP was transferred to the SAD-BJP alliance.

The AAP national convener insisted it is the Election Commission's responsibility to keep people's faith in EVMs.

He further asked the Election Commission to count slips of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT and match it with the figures of EVM results.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati had earlier also put the onus on the EVMs for her loss in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying the machine accepted votes only in favour of the BJP.