Bhopal: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday that any officer making non-sense comments on EVM would face the music. Rawat made the above comment at an all-party meeting in the state capital. Indore collector Nishant Warwade had once commented on EVMs at a meeting on poll preparation by the commission.
Though Rawat did not mention his name, he said that he would not tolerate any comment on EVMs. Rawat told the officers posted on field duties that he would not spare them even if a slight irregularity took place. He said strict action would be taken if any officer was found hand-in-glove with anyone.
Rawat said the Commission would support conducting of elections in the right way and asked officers to be candid if they commit any mistake. He warned them if any wrong was intentionally done he would take action. Rawat asked questions to officers from all districts about preparation for election in their respective districts.
After seeing their presentations, he also cross questioned them, but most of the officers could not give satisfactory reply to the questions on VVPAT. Rawat became quite angry about the reply of Rajgarh collector Karmveer Sharma on vulnerable mapping.
He reprimanded Sharma asking him to prepare properly and pulled up superintendent of police (SP) Simala Prasad. Rawat, on the issue of a collector saying to invite voters by sending ‘Peele Chawal’ (a traditional way to invite respectfully), told chief electoral officer VL Kantarao to tell the collector concerned that ‘Peele Chawal’ does not help in conducting elections.
Rawat also expressed concern over the preparations for election by Hoshangabad collector Priyanka Das. He told the officers that they needed to prepare more and pay special attention to their work. Rawat also asked them to take cognizance of lesser number of female voters.
