In a late night development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has debunked the allegation made by senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, that the numbers of many EVM machines have changed in several constituencies before the counting.
Replying to Baghel, the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh, said in a tweet on X that, “The alleged mismatch in EVMs number shared with the INC candidate of Rajnandgaon PC, is not based on facts. The EVMs used during polls are exactly according to the list of machines shared by the Returning Officer after randomisation with contesting candidates.”
“The list of machines changed due to some mechanical/technical faults during the poll, and a mock poll has also been shared with the candidates. Moreover, the polling agents have put signatures on the paper seals used to seal the EVMs before the start of the polls. During scrutiny the very next day of the poll in the presence of independent Observers, no such issue was raised by any of the contesting candidates,” added Rina Babasaheb Kangale, CEO, Chhattisgarh.
She further added that “All paper seals can be verified with their number mentioned in form 17(C) at the time of actual counting. The unique number of Ballot, Control units and VVPATs can also be verified with lists shared before and after the poll with the candidates. So the allegation of the alleged change in EVMs after the poll is baseless.”
Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh tweets, "The list of machines changed due to some mechanical/technical faults during the poll and a mock poll has also been shared with the candidates. Moreover, the polling agents have put signatures on the paper seals used to seal the EVMs… pic.twitter.com/dQDnaiJ2K6
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2024
However showcasing his disagreement over the reply by the ECI, the Congress stalwart from Chhattisgarh once claimed that the the ECI reply is factually incorrect. Notably earlier, the former CM and Indian National Congress (INC) candidate from Rajnandgaon, Baghel, in a tweet on X, alleged that the numbers of many machines provided by the Election Commission had changed in the details of Form 17 (C).
चुनाव आयोग ने चुनाव में प्रयुक्त होने वाली मशीनों के नंबर दिए थे। इसमें बैलेट यूनिट, कंट्रोल यूनिट और वीवीपैट शामिल है।
मेरे चुनाव क्षेत्र राजनादगांव मतदान के बाद फ़ॉर्म 17सी में जो जानकारी दी गई है उसके अनुसार बहुत सी मशीनों के नंबर बदल गए हैं। जिन बूथों पर नंबर बदले हैं उससे… pic.twitter.com/HsKwS0xxCU
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) June 3, 2024
The Congress leader, in his tweet, has further alleged that similar complaints have also been also coming to the fore from the other Lok Sabha constituencies of the state. The development occurred hours after the ECI in a press conference also refuted allegation made by another Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, that the Union Home Minister had called 150 District Magistrates across the country before the counting process scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 4. (With inputs from ANI)
