BJP scripted victory in Jind by EVM tampering: Abhay Chautala

ROHTAK: Refusing to accept the humiliating defeat in Jind byelection, senior leader of Indian National Lok Dal and leader of opposition Abhay Chautala accused the BJP of managing victory by EVM tampering.

Addressing a press conference in Rohtak on Friday, Abhay said he was not ready to believe that INLD could finish with just 3,454 votes.

“It was all scripted. It’s only possible through EVM tempering and by influencing voters using money and freebies. I have reports that that the company that used to take care of EVM machines belonged to Gujarat and it raises the needle of suspicion,” he said.

Abhay said the matter was raised during counting regarding mismatched number of EVMs. The BJP government misused its power to win this election, the INLD leader added.

Asked if the humiliating defeat could upset the party’s alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party, the INLD leader said the alliance would continue and Jind poll defeat would have no repercussions on it.

Abhay said if given a choice, voters would give an undertaking in an affidavit to the Election Commission that they had voted for INLD.

Asked about the split group — Jannayak Janata Party, he said the fledgling party was playing in the hands of political parties to upset INLD.

He also rubbished the allegations that INLD’s vote bank went with BJP candidate Krishan Midha to defeat JJP’s Digvijay Chautala in the elections. “I am not a traitor in the party to stoop so low only to defeat JJP candidate and give up party’s vote bank in the process,” he added.

Reacting on former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s remarks that bypoll is usually won by the ruling government, Abhay argued that if it was the case, then why had Congress lost Ellenabad bypoll in 2009.