Karnataka EVM Survey Sparks Debate: Distrust or Public Confidence?

On January 2, 2026, Congress leader Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge) ignited a political debate with a tweet challenging a recent Karnataka EVM survey. The survey, conducted by NGO GRAAM and reported by Bharath Joshi, claimed that 84.55% of citizens trust elections in India, and 83.61% trust EVMs, reflecting an upward trend from 77.9% in 2023.

Survey commissioned by the Election Commission through State Chief Electoral Officer.

Survey conducted by a Modi’s man who works in the PMO and has authored a lavish tribute to the PM.

Survey conducted in May 2025.
Detailed #VoteChori exposé by the Congress came out in August… pic.twitter.com/Pzaxznfv31

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) January 2, 2026

While the survey touted public confidence in the electoral process, Kharge raised concerns about its credibility due to GRAAM’s ties to the PMO, the timing of the survey (May 2025) before Congress's "#VoteChori" exposé in August 2025, and a small sample size of only 50 respondents per constituency.

Key Findings from the Survey

• Survey covered 5,100 respondents across 102 Assembly constituencies.
• Majority believed elections are free and fair, with Bengaluru showing increased trust.
• EVM confidence rose to 83.61%, suggesting stronger public acceptance.

Despite these numbers, Kharge argued the survey could not represent the entire state due to sampling bias and possible political influence.

Political Reactions

Pro-Survey/BJP-aligned voices:

• Users like @BYVijayendra and @RAshokaBJP praised the survey as proof that Congress's Vote Chori allegations were baseless.
• Highlighted ballot paper adoption by Congress as regressive.

Critical/Congress-aligned voices:

• @PriyankKharge, @SupriyaShrinate, and @sardesairajdeep questioned the survey’s independence, citing political bias and timing.
• Pointed out BJP’s silence on Aland chargesheet, hinting selective political narratives.

Neutral/Satirical voices:

• @DamodarKDevadig1 posted cartoons mocking political tug-of-war over survey credibility.

Broader Implications

• The survey highlights India’s electoral trust debate, with BJP seeing validation and Congress questioning fairness.
• Sampling limitations emphasize the need for independent, transparent surveys.
• Karnataka may see reforms in local elections, balancing EVM adoption with public confidence.

Opinion and Analysis

While public trust appears high on paper, Kharge’s critique underscores systemic risks in survey methodology. Moving forward, more transparent, larger-scale, and politically neutral surveys are essential to maintain credibility in elections.

The controversy also reflects India’s polarized political landscape, where even objective data is debated through partisan lenses. Future elections may witness enhanced monitoring, digital verification, and civic awareness campaigns to strengthen trust further.

Future Expectations

• Election Commission reforms to ensure survey independence.
• Expanded sampling for accurate representation of public opinion.
• Increased public awareness campaigns on EVM security and electoral transparency.