A day ahead of the results of the mega battle of ballots, The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced that it has set-up a 24-hour EVM Control Room at Nirvachan Sadan in the national Capital to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs. The Poll Commission has also issued a helpline number to deal with all the complaints related to EVM during the counting of votes.
The Election Commission in a statement said that any complaints during counting related to EVMs can be informed at the control room number is 011-23052123.
Election Commission of India: A 24-hour EVM Control Room has been made functional at Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs. Any complaints during counting related to EVMs can be informed at control room number is 011-23052123. pic.twitter.com/vDkBU4gafX
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019
This comes after the Opposition parties in several places raised concern over manipulation and alleged tampering of EVMs.
The Election Commission while assuring that the Strongrooms are designed to keep the EVMs and VVPATs safe. The Poll Commission further said that the EVMs are safe and under security in the strongrooms. All the process of sealing and storage is Video recorded.
The Poll Commission of India also said that Strongrooms will only be open on the day of Counting. All the counting agents as per protocol will be shown the seal, Address tag and serial number to maintain the transparency in the process.
Issuing a clarification, the poll watchdog in a statement said that, ‘Complaints of alleged movement of EVMs, purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, doing rounds in
sections of media are absolutely false. Visuals seen viral on media do not pertain
to any EVMs used during the polls’.
‘The aspersions in clips being used in media merely pertain to the storage or movement of reserve unused EVMs. However any case of lapse even in the handling of reserve EVMs is thoroughly investigated and disciplinary action taken against the officers responsible’, EC added in a statement.
Election Commission: The aspersions in clips being used in media merely pertain to the storage or movement of reserve unused EVMs. However any case of lapse even in handling of reserve EVMs is thoroughly investigated and disciplinary action taken against the officers responsible
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2019
While on the other hand at least 21 Opposition parties led by TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu met the EC over VVPAT-EVM Count Issue. They demanded that 100% VVPAT slips be verified with EVMs in case a mismatch is found during counting from any assembly segment.
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