LUCKNOW: A day after the results for bypolls in UP and assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand were declared on Saturday, BSP national president Mayawati on Sunday made a major announcement on her party not contesting any bypolls in the country from now on, till the Election Commission does not take strict measures to prevent misuse of govt machinery in these elections, like it was done in UP.
She said that the results declared on Saturday have raised a huge debate on the use of EVMs in the elections. “Earlier it was the ballot paper which was used for bogus voting and now it is the EVM which is being misused,” said the BSP chief.
BSP contested all nine seats in UP bypolls to win none. She said that her party,however, will continue to contest general elections to Lok Sabha, legislative assemblies and local bodies as chances of misusing govt machinery are minimal as the administrative officers fear change of power.