“Self-confession of 200 EVMS replaced,” ECI registers a case

A viral video 'reveals' BJP misdemeanors, Election Commission said it has registered a case are investigating, more violations alleged by Samajwadi Party, ground reports

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“At least 200 EVMs have been changed… arrangements will be made overnight,” the man claiming that the just concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections have been compromised, and giving an example that at least 200 EVMs have been replaced, in an updated video that came to light on March 6 has been identified as Narendra Kharwar, a former Sadar Block chief of Maharajganj. The video was shared  on social media by Lucknow based journalist Manish Pandey, who added that  Kharwar is known to be “a family friend of Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary”. Kharwar did not correct the (off screen) person questioning him about the “fixing if BJP was winning” and being called a “BJP supporter.  

 

 

Taking cognizance of the viral video, the Election Commission issued a statement late night on March 6, that they have registered a case and are investigating. They however do not identify the man claiming EVMs have been changed, even though his identity and affiliation as a BJP supporter has been established earlier. It is not yet known what action has been taken against the man, or what the details of which constituency those EVMS he spoke about were from.

 

 

According to a report in youtube new channel The Live TV, aired from Varanasi EVMS have been tampered with. This report too plays the video out, and again asks where the man close to the minister got the information of the alleged EVM tampering or replacement. 

The official Twitter Handle of Samajwadi Party has also been reporting various allegations of irregularities such as “fake voting is being done by BJP workers at booth number 338 of Gopalpur Vidhan Sabha 344 in Azamgarh district,” and tagging Election Commission and District Administration in its ‘complaints’ on social media

 

 

The SP also alleged that there was “booth capturing” at booth number 224 of Jaunpur 366 assembly of Jaunpur district. The SP twitter handle had made scores of such allegations and reports public by the end of voting on March 7. 

 

 

Once voting is complete, the EVMs are sealed and stored in a strong room that is guarded till the counting begins, on March 10 in this case of the candidate or a representative, who will be allowed to put their seals or locks again after the room is closed. According to some local reports there have been some discrepancies in the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT slips as they are known ) reported as well. A voter is seen telling a journalist that he was given a slip that disclosed identities of the voter, and who he voted for in Booth 420, Varanasi North (388) at the Muslim Inter College. 

 

 

Political activist Yogendra Yadav has also shared a video from March 6, allegeding that “It is Gujarat Police who has come to conclude the elections in UP” the clip was reportedly “on the route from Narayanpur, District Mirzapur to Varanasi. The policeman wearing the Gujarat Police Id on his shoulder claims “Gujarat people will not be against… Yogi will come in UP” and when asked if that was why he came here [to UP] replies confidently “yes that is why we have come [here]” adding “let them record [a video] Yogi will come”. 

 

 

While District Magistrate, Varanasi had claimed this was a ‘rumour’ On March 7 Mirzapur Police responded and posted that “the said constable has been removed from duty point and necessary action is being taken”.

 

 

Allegations of faulty voting are not new, public interest lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan had shared on March 1 that votes of some women voters were purportedly cast by someone else.

 

 

Related

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