BJP's "One Nation, One Poll" A Ploy To Win By "Manipulation": Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati Sunday opposed the BJP's "one nation, one election" idea aimed at having simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assemblies polls, saying it is a BJP's ploy to win all elections through one-time "manipulation" of EVMs.

Mayawati hurled the allegation, describing even the BJP landslide victory in the last Lok Sabha election as "doubtful".

"The new gimmick of 'one nation, one election' is BJP's ploy to win the Lok Sabha and assembly elections by a single 'dhandhli' (manipulation) misusing the EVMs," she said.

"It will put the nation in an era of casteism making it free from any opposition," she added, addressing a party meeting convened to discuss the purported "national concern" over the alleged "hijacking" of the democracy via EVMs.

"If there is no manipulation in the BJP's victory and if it has the majority votes by its side, why is the party shying away from going to the people and avoiding elections through ballots?" a BSP statement quoted her as saying.

The meeting was also attended by the BSP's representatives from other states, who alleged that the Election Commission was working on directions of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The way the EC bowed before the prime minister also gives rise to the apprehension over the free and fair polls in the country and weakening of the democracy," she alleged and demanded that "constitutional bodies should find solution to the people's concern".

She said the BJP's victory is "unexpected and against the people's mandate", which is not possible without a "planned manipulation and conspiracy".

The BSP chief demanded that elections in India be held through ballot papers in future.

"All the main opposition political parties are of the view that elections should be held through ballot papers but the BJP and the EC are against it, which has created uneasiness in the country," she said.

Mayawati also questioned the BJP's keenness on having simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

"If the BJP is so keen on one nation, one poll, why didn't it hold the assembly elections in states like Haryana and Maharashtra with the Lok Sabha polls.

She asked party workers to to remain cautious to deal with discrepancies in functioning of EVMs during upcoming polls and emphasised upon them to stick to the party's "brotherhood formula" successfully tested in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls to ensure that the party's base remains intact.

In the meeting, Mayawati also took stock of the party's readiness for the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra.