Overview
- Akhilesh Yadav, speaking in Lucknow on Saturday, vowed to abolish electronic voting machines and bring back paper ballots even if it takes a century.
- He cited the United Kingdom’s recent local voting by paper and said the Samajwadi Party beat the BJP in the 2024 national polls despite EVMs.
- He alleged large abuses in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh voter rolls, pointing to deletions, misuse of Form 7 to request removals, and a Special Intensive Revision drive that he says struck valid voters.
- He accused the Election Commission of withholding technical details about EVM software and drew a parallel to smart electricity meters he claims can be altered remotely, and the reports carried no EC response.
- He paired the anti‑EVM campaign with promises of free bus travel and education for girls, free treatment for poor patients including cancer care, and up to 300 units of free power as he positions for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh race.