MP Congress holds review meet after Assembly election debacle, some blame tampered EVMs

Former leader of opposition in the Assembly, Ajay Singh, who won the election from Churhat seat, has distanced himself from commenting on the alleged EVM-tampering issue.

Congress Madhya Pradesh President Kamal Nath with senior leader Digvijaya Singh and other leaders during a review meeting of party candidates after the party's loss in the State Assembly elections, in Bhopal.

Credit: PTI Photo

Bhopal: After its unexpected defeat in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, the PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) held a review meeting to take stock of the situation at party headquarters in Bhopal on Tuesday.

PCC chief Kamal Nath, senior party leaders and assembly poll candidates were present in the meeting. There was no official press conference after the review meeting and hence individual comments were made by leaders.

Off the record, leaders blamed the EVM machines which were allegedly systematically tampered with, affecting 100 odd seats.

The EVM machines, which were 80 to 90 per cent charged (batteries), were fixed to give a lead of at least 20,000 votes ahead of Congress candidates, they claimed. Nath is scheduled to meet the Congress national leadership in Delhi to discuss the EVM tampering issue. Further, the Congress will take into confidence I.N.D.I.A bloc partners to rake up the matter nationally.

Former leader of opposition in Assembly, Ajay Singh, who won the election from Churhat seat, has distanced himself from commenting on the alleged EVM-tampering issue.

“I will not comment on who is what. We will deep dive to booth level and try to find out what went wrong. We will sit again with more information in the next meeting," Singh said, adding, "every election is a challenge and people this time blessed me with victory. I made course correction of mistakes and defeat of 2018 assembly election. I followed the footsteps of my father who served the party like a true soldier. I don’t aspire for the post and am ready to shoulder any responsibility of the party," Singh told DH.  

Digvijay Singh, LOP Dr Govind Singh, Ajay Singh, and Ramniwas Rawant were among those present in the meeting today. The party headquarters was abuzz with activities after a lull and shocking defeat in the 2023 assembly election.