EVM row: Election Commission clarifies machines were for training officials, not used in voting
The Election Commission has clarified on the stealing of votes by illegally moving Electronice Voting Machines (EVMs) in Varanasi just 48 hours before the counting of votes in state elections.
In a statement issued late on Tuesday night, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh said that a rumour was spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections.
The poll body’s statement comes hours after the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of stealing votes and claimed a truck carrying EVMs was intercepted in Varanasi. Later, the SP have tweeted the on-camera statement of an official conceding there were lapses.
It was found during the investigation that these EVMs were marked for training, the District Election Officer of Varanasi.
A memorandum has been submitted to the poll body by the delegation of senior SP leaders Naresh Uttam and Rajendra Chaudhary, Om Prakash Rajbhar and Janwadi Party’s (Socialist) Sanjay Chauhan.
Along with the Uttar Pradesh, the counting will be held in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur on March 10 assembly election result.
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