Image Courtesy:navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
An as yet unidentified “officer” has reportedly been suspended following the “EVM Chori” allegation video posted by Akhilesh Yadav. However, some Election Commission sources have indicated to NDTV that the official could be Varanasi Additional District Magistrate NK Singh. As this is a breaking news story, more details are awaited, and copy shall be updated once information is verified. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s had accused Uttar Pradesh government of ‘stealing’ Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) when a truck carrying the machines was caught on video on March 8, just two days ahead of vote counting on March 10. Opposition parties and allies had then demanded the removal of District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma.
Even on March 7, when polling was conducted for the last phase of Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh, serious allegations were made and even viral videos emerged of self-confession by political workers saying “at least 200 EVMs have been changed… arrangements will be made overnight.” By March 8, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had dropped the biggest allegation yet.
वाराणसी में EVM पकड़े जाने का समाचार उप्र की हर विधानसभा को चौकन्ना रहने का संदेश दे रहा है।
मतगणना में धांधली की कोशिश को नाकाम करने के लिए सपा-गठबंधन के सभी प्रत्याशी और समर्थक अपने-अपने कैमरों के साथ तैयार रहें।
युवा लोकतंत्र व भविष्य की रक्षा के लिए मतगणना में सिपाही बने!
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 8, 2022
लिख रहा हूँ ये सोचकर कि शायद जागेगा ज़मीर
बेख़बर से हो गये हैं न जाने क्यों कुछ ख़बरनवीस— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 9, 2022
After the dramatic discovery of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) being whisked away, allegedly in a clandestine manner, in Uttar Pradesh on the evening of March 8, questions are being raised about the alleged complicity of the district administration in the exercise. Opposition parties are not buying the Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma’s explanation that the machines were not used in elections, but were instead used for training purposes. Interestingly, even the Election Commission has backed the DM’s claims. But calls for the DM’s transfer have been growing, as Opposition parties feel the process of vote counting could get compromised if authorities are unable to remain impartial due to their alleged proximity to the ruling regime.
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