The Election Commission, which is fed up with the questions being raised on EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) by some political parties after the defeat in the elections, will no longer remain silent on any kind of absurdities and falsehoods made against it. Terming such false allegations as an initiative to weaken people’s trust in the election process, the Commission is now preparing to deal with such people.
Election Commission will now ask for proof
The Commission will now seek proof related to the allegations from the political party or other concerned people on such allegations, failing which action will be taken as per the prescribed rules. Opposition parties have again started blaming EVMs regarding the election results of five states. Many leaders including former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel are making such allegations.
The Commission has already shown strictness
Earlier, the Commission had shown strictness on the allegations made by Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav regarding irregularities in the voter list during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Also issued a notice and asked him to present evidence related to his allegations. Which he could not present. After this the Commission had also issued a warning to him. Also advised to avoid such allegations in future.
More than 140 assembly elections have been conducted so far using EVMs.
If sources related to the Commission are to be believed, such questions are being raised by political parties regarding EVMs when till now more than 140 assembly elections of different states have been conducted through EVMs in the country. Of these, Congress has won about 33 elections so far, while BJP has won about 29 elections.
Along with this, parties like TMC, BJD, RD, JDU, JMM, CPI(M), AIDMK and DMK have also formed their governments by registering victory in different states. Along with this, from 2004 to 2019, four general elections have also been held using EVMs, in which till now Congress has won two elections and BJP has won two.
It is noteworthy that there was a long battle regarding EVM from the High Court to the Supreme Court. During this time, the court had given directions for complete assurance and changes like VVPAT as well as approved its widespread use. Recently, in a case related to EVM, the Supreme Court had strongly reprimanded the petitioner.
Commission had given challenge to hack EVM
A few years ago, on the allegations of hacking of EVMs, the Election Commission had also challenged the political parties to hack it. For this, the Commission had also invited the parties raising doubts on EVMs. During this period no party had come forward.