Patna, April 2: Lalu Prasad today waded into the controversy over alleged mix-ups by an electronic voting machine (EVM) during a trial yesterday ahead of by-elections in Madhya Pradesh.

The RJD chief demanded a high-level inquiry, pointing out that after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results he had supported BSP chief Mayawati's claim that EVMs were tampered with.

"When I had raised the issue about the UP results, people did not listen me," Lalu said today at his 10 Circular Road residence. "But the recent example in Madhya Pradesh proves that EVMs cannot be trusted 100 per cent. I demand a high-level inquiry. How come the BJP's symbol was generated when the button was pressed on the Samajwadi Party symbol?"

The electoral officer had yesterday played down the machine's behaviour, saying it had not been properly "calibrated" for the demo.

Lalu today pointed to reports that the Bhind district magistrate and superintendent of police had been shunted, and asked why it was done if there were no irregularities.

"Instead of removing the DM and SP, why cannot EVM machine removed?" he said. "Ballot-paper polling is the best way to conduct elections . Even the developed countries do not use EVMs."

An Election Commission source , however, had told The Telegraph yesterday that if the DM and SP are removed, it would be because the "Congress has complained they are not neutral" and because their files have thrown up some reason to do so.

"This is not related to the demonstration," the source had insisted.

"When I used to say that paper-ballot voting is the best way people used to accuse me," Lalu said. "People used to say that I misuse the system. Now see what has happened with the EVM in Madhya Pradesh. Only BJP's symbol receipt is being generated when you press any other political party button."

According to some journalists who watched the demo, however, the BJP received three mock votes out of the seven or eight cast, with one of the other votes going to the Bahujan Samaj Party, which isn't in the fray in Ater, Bhind. The Congress, Independents and some smaller parties received votes too, they said.

Lalu said it was hard to believe that the BJP got so many votes even in areas in Uttar Pradesh where Muslims are significant in terms of numbers. He said it does not matter where the EVM machines are manufactured but the MP incident has proved that EVMs can be manipulated.

"In the past as well many political parties had registered their protest against the practice of using EVMs," Lalu said. "For safety, there was a rule of mock poll before actual voting. During the mock poll representatives of the political parties were invited and the mock poll was conducted to convince them believe that the EVMs were functioning properly."

He claimed that these days the Election Commission officials do not inform the political parties about the mock poll.

"Though the EVM is high-tech but I have heard that it can be easily manipulated," Lalu said. "The only benefit of the EVM is fast counting and fast results but the best practice is the old method of voting. Though it takes a long time for counting, but it is the duty of the Election Commission to bring back the old practice."

He also said using EVMs is very expensive and crores of rupees are being spent on the manufacturing and maintenance of the machines.