Members of state Congress committee lodged a complaint with chief electoral officer VL Kantha Rao on Saturday. Congress legal cell in-charge JP Dhanopia said despite the claims of the election commission constant irregularities in the storage of electronic voting machines are coming to the fore and it may lead to their tampering.
However, election officials have given a clean chit to the local authorities as the machines were found used, belonging to the reserve stock. Congress has demanded removal of Sagar Collector Alok Kumar Singh citing closeness with the home minister.
Congress demanded the data of unreturned EVM’s from the election commission along with that of extra machines used in the elections other than the dedicated reserve quota. The party also sought the commission to make public the server link of CCTV cameras installed outside the strong room. Formed state president Arun Yadav also visited jail premises where EVMs are kept. Yadav raised question over security of EVMs and casted aspersion over suspicious activities around strong room.
Bus without registration number
Citing the Sagar incident he said around 35 EVM’s were brought in to strong rooms in bus that didn’t bear a registration number. Home minister Bhupendra Singh is contesting from Khurai.
Lapses in storage
Dhanopia also raised the issue of LED panel outage at the strong room located outside the strong room Bhopal Jail on Friday. In Khargone, Satna and Khandwa districts too there were lapses in storage of EVMs and safety of strong room. He claimed that in Satna two unauthorised people were seen entering the strong room whereas in Khargone EVMs were brought two days later on late night of Saturday.
Naib tehsildar suspended
Among the opposition and complaints naib tehsildar of Khurai Rajesh Mehra was suspended in the incident related to EVMs brought after 48 hours to the strong room in a bus without registration number. Commissioner Sagar division, Manohar Dubey ordered suspension of naib tehsildar after inquiry report from Collector.
