Nagpur: As the Lok Sabha poll results trickle in, every moment seems like a nail-biting thriller for candidates across India. The fate of political hopefuls hangs in the balance, and the tension is palpable. Among the chaos, the Congress and its allied INDIA bloc have found themselves grappling with an age-old nemesis: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
EVMs: The Phantom Menace or Convenient Scapegoat?
For years, opposition parties have cried foul over EVMs, accusing them of being tampered with or faulty. This election cycle has been no different. The Congress, anticipating a favorable outcome, initially dismissed the exit polls predicting a thumping majority for the Modi Sarkar. As results began to affirm the exit polls, the narrative shifted swiftly.
The Conspiracy Theories
In a classic plot twist, the Opposition’s tune changed. The once-suspect EVMs were no longer the focal point of their ire. Instead, the exit polls themselves came under fire. Congress leaders, unable to reconcile with the looming defeat, began spinning tales of deliberate manipulation. These exit polls, they claimed, were designed to mislead the public and, more importantly, to manipulate the share market.
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Tuesday 12 Nov. 2024
A Convenient Diversion
With the BJP receiving setbacks in the Hindi heartlands but still set for a majority with its NDA alliance, the narrative conveniently shifted from EVMs to exit polls. The opposition’s newfound theory was that these polls were faked, aimed at misleading not just voters but investors as well.
The Market Manipulation Allegations
Some leaders from Congress and its allies posited that the exit polls were part of a grand scheme to influence the stock market. They alleged that by projecting a strong performance for the NDA, the market was manipulated to favor certain financial interests. It was a dramatic, if not entirely convincing, pivot from their earlier stance on EVMs.
Celebrating the Results
Even as they raised questions about the integrity of the exit polls, the INDIA bloc couldn’t ignore the fact that they too were gaining significant footholds in various regions. This presented a delicious irony: how could they decry the same exit polls that were predicting their successes?
The Hypocrisy of Selective Outrage
This selective outrage has not gone unnoticed. Critics have pointed out the hypocrisy in the Opposition’s stance. When results are favorable, the system is sound. When they aren’t, it’s time to blame the machines or the polls. It’s a classic case of wanting to have one’s cake and eat it too.
A Never-Ending Saga
In the grand theater of Indian politics, the Opposition’s narrative around EVMs and exit polls is just another act in a long-running play. As the results continue to pour in, one thing is clear: the finger-pointing and conspiracy theories are far from over. Whether it’s EVMs today or exit polls tomorrow, the Opposition will always find a new villain to blame for their electoral woes. In the end, it’s the Indian voter who watches this spectacle unfold, amused and bemused by the drama that never seems to end.
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