Be it BJP or Congress or any other candidate, investigation was done on all complaints and EVM was again found to be spotless

New Delhi: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have proved flawless in yet another test. When candidates of different parties in various states across the country who lost the Lok Sabha elections expressed doubts on EVMs, investigation of everyone’s claims began. As per the demand of the candidates, EVMs and VVPATs were matched and till now not a single evidence has been found which can prove the claims of EVM tampering to be true. The process of EVM-VVPAT checking and verification (C&V) has not been completed only in Tamil Nadu, complaints received from the rest of the country have been resolved. The C&V process is expected to be completed in a day or two in Tamil Nadu too. The target is to complete the process of checking and verifying EVM-VVPAT in the entire country by 1 September.

The EVMs were tested on the orders of the Supreme Court and were found to be flawless

Our sister newspaper The Economic Times (ET) has learnt that the EVM-VVPAT memory check conducted to probe allegations of possible tampering has so far found no flaws. The National Election Commission, following a Supreme Court order, has for the first time opened the door for two defeated candidates from each constituency to clear their doubts. Two defeated candidates from any constituency have the right to seek EVM-VVPAT matching within seven days of the results of the Lok Sabha elections on June 4.

Key Facts

➤ Scrutiny on two out of eight C&V applications remained pending as the candidates had filed a petition in the court.
➤ In two cases the C&V process was stopped because the complaining candidates did not turn up.
➤ Four C&V processes were completed and no irregularities were found in any of them.

Know from which constituencies of which states applications came

After the Lok Sabha election results were announced, applications seeking verification and verification were received from only eight out of 543 constituencies. These applications were related to 92 polling booths in six states. Whereas, in the assembly elections, three applications were received related to 26 polling booths in two states.

Tamil Nadu
➤ AC Shanmugam, candidate from Vellore Parliamentary constituency had applied for scrutiny and confirmation.
➤ DMDK candidate Vijay Prabhakaran V filed his/her nomination from Virudhunagar. he/she lost to Congress’ Manickam Tagore by 4,379 votes.

Maharashtra
➤ BJP candidate from Ahmednagar seat Sujay Vikhe Patil filed C&V application. he/she lost to Sharad Pawar’s faction NCP candidate Nilesh Lanke by 28 thousand votes.

Haryana
➤ An application was issued objecting to the victory of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The applicant demanded changes in the C&V protocol itself which was rejected by the District Election Officer (DEO).
➤ Congress candidates from Faridabad and Karnal in Haryana also filed C&V applications

Chhattisgarh
➤ Congress candidate from Kanker Lok Sabha constituency filed C&V application.

Telangana
➤ After losing to the Congress candidate from Zaheerabad seat, BB Patil filed C&V application.

Andhra Pradesh
➤ YSR Congress candidate from Vijayanagaram Lok Sabha constituency Bellanna Chandrasekhar demanded investigation and confirmation.
➤ YSR candidates from Gajapatinagaram and Ongole assembly constituencies filed C&V applications.

Odisha
➤ BJD candidate from Jharsuguda Lok Sabha constituency Deepali Das lost to BJP candidate by a very narrow margin. She demanded EVM-VVPAT matching at 13 polling stations.