Bhopal: Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured in India not in China or Japan, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat while speaking to media, here on Wednesday. CEC and its team conducted two day meeting with the officials concerned on the upcoming election.
He added that the political parties are wrong in creating fuss over EVM’s authenticity. “EVM are prepared in tight vigil just like Indian currency, by the companies which are related to defence and atomic engineering.”
He added that ECI is not in agreement with the state chief election officer who had decided to increase the polling percentage from 72.6 to 80 per cent under the SVEEP plan. He said that ECI wants that the polling percentage should maximum rather than 80 per cent.
He stated that political parties have given their suggestions and their grievances related to the upcoming elections. He said that the election commission of India (ECI) has found merit in the objection raised by political parties about its observers in that that the election observer shall be of Hindi language background. He added that this will ensure that not are the complaints conveyed properly but also the observer can understand the communication completely.
Representatives of the various political parties have also demanded a single window to adreess various issues including permissions related to campaign and vehicles be established. Some of the parties have demanded that the ceiling of the election expenditures be increased.
He claimed that the election preparation in the state is in full swing, but 30 percent of the work related to establishment of waiting rooms and power supply connections at polling stations is still incomplete. He added that keeping in view the ECI theme for this year- ‘accessible elections’, the polling stations in the state have been increased from 53,946, to 65,340 so as to ensure that voters can cast their votes within a radius of 2 kilometres. He added that the polling stations have been increased especially in tribal areas.
ECI has taken cognisance on the complaint that a polling station situated in the bordering area of northern district, had been shifted from the weaker section area a strongmen area. CEC said, “Collector has been directed to relocate the polling station concerned immediately.”
He claimed that the electoral roll is perfect and that the election programme is running on its schedule and added, “The elections will be held in set time in MP.” He informed that ECI can adopt the ‘one nation one election’ line only after constitutional amendment.
To keep a check on social media regarding the election campaigning, a meeting was held with Facebook and WhatsApp regulators and they have assured that they will channelise their efforts safeguard the integrity of the elections.
eVIGIL, Woman only polling booths, cashless medical facilities
CEC informed that using eVIGIL any commoner can upload the video or photograph and complaint any issue related to Model Code of Conduct, “The complaint will be redress within 100 minutes”. For the first time, ECI has decided to establish at least one ‘all women managed polling station’ in each assembly constituency of MP. Taking note of the deaths of 17 people, due to lack of medical facilities, during in Bihar elections of 2015, ECI has directed the chief secretary of MP that those involved in the election should be given cashless health facilities.
