New Delhi/Bhopal: An unmarked school bus with a large number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and government officers on election duty with EVMs and VVPATs staying in a hotel owned by a BJP leader have led to fresh allegations about EVM tampering ahead of vote count in Madhya Pradesh.
Polling took place in Madhya Pradesh ruled by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2001 on November 28, 2018 and counting of votes is scheduled for December 11. There are also allegations that power was turned off and CCTV cameras went into non-operational mode for more than one hours.
There are also reports that EVMs reached a collection centre in Sagar assembly constituency 48 hours after voting ended in the state on Wednesday.
"This is absolutely shocking!", senior Congress leader wrote on twitter tagging the video of a school bus without any number plate carrying a large number of EVMs.
"Sensing a defeat in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, some are indulging in desperate measures by attempting to tamper with EVM’s in strong rooms. Urge the EC to investigate and take concrete action", Patel wrote in another machine.
A video of some government staff on election duty staying in a hotel reportedly owned by a BJP leader is also viral on the social media.
"Why were Govt employees on election duty in MP staying at a local hotel owned by a BJP leader along with EVM's...! ", Vinay Kumar Dokania, Youth Congress Social Media Coordinator, said.
Accusing the ruling BJP of EVM tampering and manipulation in election result, Congress, AAP and BSP workers in the state have staged protest. Senior Congress leaders also met Chief Election Commission in New Delhi.
"The BJP has shown a clear trend. Every time they fear losing an election, they tamper with the voting mechanisms. Our demands from the EC are simple. Make voting more transparent and ensure the law is followed", the Congress party said.
"In Madhya Pradesh home minister's area, EVMs were deposited using a bus without a registration plate, 48 hours after polling. Is this a conspiracy by the government to ensure a BJP win?" the Madhya Pradesh Congress tweeted.
The Chief Electoral Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh, however, said these EVMs were not used for voting, and were among the ones kept on standby to be used in case of a technical snag. Sources say there were 34 such EVMs.
"These are EVMs kept as 'Reserve' stationed at some Police stations, to be used as replacement for malfunctioning machines during Poll. Such machines were to be stored separately from polled EVMs. Strong room having Polled EVMs was neither opened nor was supposed to be opened," the Chief Electoral Officer tweeted.
"Every EVM has a unique number code for it. The numbers of EVM used in polling have been shared with all political parties. The numbers of reserved EVM's have been checked by political parties in sagar districts. Their numbers are different," the Chief Electoral Officer also said.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Modi govt has let us down, farmers say as tens of thousands of them march towards Parliament
Congress didn't bring Muslim reservation bill despite having strength in Assembly: Fadnavis
'All information about Khashoggi killing is from agency led by the person involved in fake coup'
VHP, Shiv Sena Ram temple gambit in Ayodhya ends in a flop show
All humans descended from just two people, latest research shows
After outrage, China orders halt to baby gene-editing activities
Muslims by their wisdom foiled attempt to disrupt peace over Ram temple : UP Minister
BJP government is doing exactly what Ambedkar had warned about
Maharashtra assembly passes bill to provide 16% reservation to Marathas