Badly defeated in Gujarat civic polls, the Gujarat Congress on Thursday said the election results are in BJP favor not due to Modi magic, but due to machine magic.

Stating this in a press conference held at a hotel in Ahmedabad, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela said, that former officer on special duty(OSF) of Chief Minister(CM) office was responsible for manipulation of electronic voting machines(EVM). Vaghela said, the EVMs were controlled by CM office.

Vaghela questioned how it was possible that on polling day the total voting was only 25% at 4 pm(according to Vaghela’s knowledge), but in last one hour, it increased up to 44%. Vaghela demanded clarification on this point from BJP leaders.

Gujarat Congress President Siddharth Patel, the host of the press conference told media that the EVMs were purchased by Gujarat government five years back from a firm in Hyderabad. The EVMs that were used in civic polls were outdated according to Patel.

“These days, when one can manipulate another person’s mobile phone using bluetooth, how can electronic voting machines can be temper proof,” asked Vaghela, adding that the Gujarat government should order an inquiry into this.

Leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil was also present in the press conference.

Meanwhile, state BJP leader Vijaybhai Rupani said Congress could make such allegations before election, or on election day itself. Rupani said, such statements after tasting a grand defeat only show that after suffering from coma for two days, they are yet mentally unwell.

“Congress leader Girish Parmar had submitted a memorandum to the state election commission demanding that the results of civic polls should be announced after Panchayat and nagarpalika polls, so that the winning party in civic poll would not influence the other poll. This only proves that the Congress party was knowing about its defeat in civic elections, even before the polls were held,” said Rupani.

Rupani said when section of BJP leaders talked about EVM rigging in Lok Sabha poll 2009, the Congress at that time had termed it as insult of democracy. But now Congress itself if alleging EVM rigging.

“Congress leaders insult the voters of Kathlal, stating that BJP won Kathlal through liquor and money. Now they are insulting urban voters of Gujarat by challenging their aspiration and verdict,” Rupani added.