Fuming after Chandigarh loss, Kejriwal now rakes up ‘EVM tampering’ charge against BJP

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing party workers outside party office on February 2.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on February 2, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rigging the polls and tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Addressing party workers amidst tightened security outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, the Delhi chief minister joined by his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, criticised the Centre for allegedly using all its might to manipulate the Chandigarh mayoral polls.

Read: Delhi under heavy security ahead of Kejriwal's protest at BJP office over Chandigarh poll rigging

“For many years, we have heard that the BJP tampers with EVMs during elections remove legitimate voters from the list, and adds fake names. We never had proof, but now the whole country has seen the video from Chandigarh where the presiding officer was observed invalidating votes of municipal councilors,” alleged Kejriwal.

Quoting verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Kejriwal said when the earth gets filled with sins, God uses a broom in his way to clean them. Similarly, he added, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral misdeeds have exposed, and the public must unite to fight against it.

“The world’s largest party was seen stealing votes. The presiding officer, a BJP worker, didn't allow party agents to sit near him during the vote counting. The BJP knew that INDIA alliance candidates would win and resorted to cheating,” said Kejriwal.

Echoing words similar to what former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee expressed in the Lok Sabha on May 31, 1996, Kejriwal said, “Parties and leaders change, elections come and go, but there should be no mischief with the Constitution and democracy. We all have to fight against the illegal practices adopted by the BJP.”

Read more: BJP sweeps Chandigarh mayoral polls; opposition allies AAP, Congress cry foul

If the BJP can resort to rigging in local body elections, it can go to any extent in the state assembly and general elections, said Kejriwal, adding that it was the time for people to introspect and save democracy.

Earlier in the morning, parts of Delhi went under a security tightrope, and paramilitary forces were deployed in front of the Aam Aadmi Party office ahead of Arvind Kejriwal’s planned protest in front of the BJP headquarters against alleged rigging in the recent Chandigarh mayoral polls held on January 30.

AAP leaders alleged that barricades were installed at various locations across the national capital to prevent people and party workers from the protest rally.

“Heavy barricades put up across Delhi, buses full of AAP volunteers being detained, hundreds of paramilitary forces deployed outside the AAP party office. Why is the BJP so scared of a protest on the Chandigarh mayor elections?” Delhi minister Atishi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).