A recent survey evaluating public sentiment after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has revealed that 83.61 per cent of respondents consider Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to be trustworthy. The findings, part of a "Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice" (KAP) study, show that nearly 70 pc of participants agreed the machines provide accurate results, with an additional 14 pc expressing "strong" agreement. The data, gathered from 5,100 people across 102 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, shows that trust remains high even when broken down by region.
The Kalaburagi division recorded the most confidence, with nearly 95 pc of respondents backing the technology. While Bengaluru showed slightly more hesitation — recording the highest "neutral" stance at 15.67 pc — the vast majority still viewed the process as reliable. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wasted no time in using these numbers to target Rahul Gandhi, who has frequently alleged that EVMs are prone to manipulation. Karnataka’s Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka, took to social media to claim the survey serves as a "slap on the face" for the Congress party. He argued that while Gandhi has spent years traveling the country claiming democracy is in danger, the people on the ground have told a "very different story."
The Congress, however, was quick to distance itself from the survey’s origins. Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge clarified that the study was not an initiative of the state government but was instead conducted by the Election Commission of India through its state office. Kharge also accused the saffron party of being selective with the data, questioning why the party is focusing on this report while ignoring specific allegations of electoral malpractice in constituencies like Aland.
In spite of the political back-and-forth, the survey highlights a deep-seated public faith in the mechanics of the vote, even as the national debate over electoral transparency continues to simmer.
Also read: BJP wants to quash the Indian Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
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