Bengaluru: On Tuesday, Andhra Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Supremo Chandrababu Naidu met the former prime minister and Janata Dat (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy as part of his efforts to mobilize opposition parties on the controversy over alleged manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

also read: Pick up weapons if you have to in order to protect votes: RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha

Briefing the media in a joint press conference after the meeting, both the leaders discussed the controversy around alleged manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

“He (Naidu) raised the issues of the faulty EVMs in the morning and he was of the suggestion that we should go back to the paper ballot to avoid these complications. Today I or HD Kumaraswamy couldn't go to Delhi, our representative was there,” said Gowda.

“I have been opposing EVMs since 2009 and said we have to go back to paper ballot,” he added.

Referring to the opposition parties' meet with officials of the Election Commission on Tuesday, Naidu said 23 parties were raising the issue and demanding transparency and accountability. “Earlier, even the BJP had opposed EVMs,” he said. “In Uttar Pradesh, we are seeing EVMs in hotels and homes... strong rooms are being changed,” Naidu alleged.

“All 23 parties are raising the issue. Not just me. Why aren't you counting for transparency and accountability? Earlier even the BJP had opposed to EVMs, Swamy had opposed it. In UP, we are seeing EVMs in hotels and homes. Strong rooms are being changed,” he added.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacking the bogey of EVM raised by the opposition, Naidu said, “Why is the PM opposing? There are EVM and VVPAT. You have spent Rs 9,000 crore... Why are you not showing transparency and accountability?” “This means you are doing mischief. You are manipulating EVMs,” he alleged.

also read: Sitting NNP MLA Tirong Aboh and 6 others killed in attack