Assam: Row over EVM in BJP nominee’s car

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 2

The presence of a polled EVM in the vehicle of a BJP candidate in Assam’s Karimganj last night reignited the debate on the sanctity of the voting machines with the Congress alleging fraud and the BJP claiming the Opposition raised such questions whenever it feared a defeat.

The Election Commission today certified the EVM in question as safe, but ordered a repoll at a booth in Ratabari seat in Karimganj after violence erupted over the issue yesterday and the police had to fire into the air to contain the crisis. The EC also suspended the presiding officer of the booth and three other officials.

“Although the seals of the EVM were found intact, it has nevertheless been decided to conduct a repoll at booth number 149 (Indira MV School) of LAC-1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution,” said the poll panel, which also sought a report from its special observer.

According to details made public by the EC, the polling party of booth number 149 of Ratabari constituency was accompanied by a police constable and a home guard. After completion of polling at 6 pm on Thursday, the party left in a vehicle provided by election authorities and was escorted by an armed security party.

Their vehicle developed a snag and instead of waiting for the sector in-charge to arrange another vehicle, they used a private vehicle hoping to reach the material receipt centre faster as they were in custody of polled EVMs.

The Congress today petitioned the EC with former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar leading the delegation. Party general secretary Priyanka Vadra said the EC needed to start acting decisively on reports of private vehicles transporting EVMs and a “serious re-evaluation of the use of EVMs needed to be carried out by all national parties”.

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took jibes at the EC saying “EC’s car has broken down, BJP’s intentions are suspect and the state of democracy has worsened”, party media head Randeep Surjewala alleged EVM fraud. “EVM fraud is for everyone to see. EVMs were found in the car of BJP MLA candidate Krishnedru Paul after the second phase of polling in Assam. If the ECI doesn’t wake up even now and remains mute or complicit, it is fatal for democracy,” said Surjewala.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, however, accused the Congress of questioning the EVMs only when faced with “imminent defeat.” “Why don’t they question EVMs in states where they win?” he asked.