Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Pune district election office on Friday said it has completed inspecting and verifying electronic voting machines (EVMs) of two polling stations in Khadakwasla assembly constituency. However, NCP(SP) candidate Sachin Dodke claimed that the process was stopped midway, after election officers refused to accept his demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to verify the actual voting.
Dodke was defeated by BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir by 52,000 votes in Khadakwasla assembly seat in the November 2024 assembly elections. He was one of the many who raised doubts over the EVMs and alleged it was being tampered with.
EVM inspections and verifications, which also involves mock polls, for Khadakwasla was done at a Bhosari godown in the district, where voting machines are stored in a strong room.
“We have carried out the process of inspection and verification of EVMs of two polling stations in the Khadakwasla assembly constituency as per the demand of the applicant. He was shown the count on EVM of the assembly election. However, he refused to have the EVMs’ memory erased for the next step, which is conducting the mock poll, and has given it in writing, so the process stands completed now from our side,” said Yashwant Mane, returning officer of Khadakwasla assembly seat.
Regarding the demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to match the count on EVMs, he said, “This was not part of the SoP laid down to us for inspection and verification of EVMs. However, matching EVM data and VVPAT data of five EVMs was done during the counting process.”
Dodke said that EVM count was shown during the counting process and questioned why he would spend money to do the same thing again.
“My demand was to hold a recount by verifying the EVMs’ count with VVPAT slips to assure that there was no tampering of EVMs during elections. I am not satisfied and will appeal against it in the court,” he said. He claimed the verification process and selection of EVMs was stopped as the election officers were unable to justify his demands.
The district election office was to inspect and verify EVMs of 27 polling booths in Hadapsar constituency as per the demand of NCP(SP) candidate Prashant Jagtap. He later informed his election petition was pending in the Bombay High Court so the process of his application was suspended on Thursday.
After losing the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates had alleged irregularities.
