This Article is From May 22, 2019

Election Results: "There'll Be Tit-For-Tat": Minister After Ex-NDA Ally's Warning Over EVMs

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Ram Vilas Paswan said opposition parties are seeking excuses for their imminent defeat and raising doubts over EVMs.

Ram Vilas Paswan said they will win more seats than predicted by exit polls. (File)

New Delhi:

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said "there will be tit for tat", hours after former NDA ally Upendra Kushwaha warned of "bloodshed" if the ruling BJP and its allies tried to manipulate voting machines in their favour. Mr Paswan made the comments in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh during a dinner meeting of NDA allies.

"Dekhiye, PM ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Prastav me bhi kuch nahi hai. Lekin humlog...ye (Rajnath) bhi kuch nahi kahenge...Lekin hum kahna chahte hain tit for tat hoga...samajh gaye na...(see, PM has not done anything. There is nothing in the resolution. But we...he (Rajnath) will not even say...but I want to say...there will be a tit for tat... understand?," Mr Paswan said.

Mr Paswan's remarks came after Rajnath Singh, who was addressing media persons after the dinner meeting hosted by BJP President Amit Shah, was asked about the government's response to the opposition's allegations over EVMs and about the possibility of violence after election results are announced.

The minister, chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), said opposition parties were looking for excuses for their imminent defeat and raising doubts over EVMs.

"When they see their defeat is imminent, they raise doubts about EVMs, but when they won in three states, then they didn't say anything on EVMs. Why did they not raise doubts after they won in Punjab," he said.

The LJP chief said: "We will win more seats than predicted by exit polls," he said. "Sweets and garlands are ready," he added.

Earlier in the day, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha had threatened his political opponents of "bloodshed", if they attempted to tamper with the results of Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a press conference in Patna, Mr Kushwaha said, "If anyone tried to tamper with the results, then there will be bloodshed."

Leaders of 22 opposition parties also met Election Commission officials to register their complaints over tampering of EVMs and issues related to VVPATs.

.