BHOPAL: The EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) are continuously proving to be a major embarrassment for the election commission. 11 EVMs were found ‘not clear’ (after the mock poll) when they were opened on the day of counting. With this figure of overall EVMs-in-controversy has reached 175.
CEO VL Kantha Rao had informed about 144 EVMs that were not handled properly and came into controversy before counting. Later, on Tuesday, Rao informed that 11 more EVMs were not handled according to the standard operating procedure in Balaghat, Narsinghpur and Jhabua. Earlier, 20 more machines were reported to have erred which brings the overall count of erring EVMs to 175. According to election commission, these 175 EVMs were used in 65 constituencies spread across 21 districts
Rao said counting of votes of these machines would be done at the end of overall counting. This is expected to delay the result further. These 175 EVMs are reported to have erred at various counts. At some places votes of the mock polls were not cleared from the EVMs while at other mock polls were cleared from the record but not from the EVMs. Surprisingly, at some places EVMs were not switched off before sealing them for counting.
They were found ‘on’ when opened for counting. When Rao was questioned on what action would be taken on the officials who were responsible for the mistakes, he responded that this matter would be taken after counting process is completed. ‘This is for the first time in history of MP assembly elections that election commission was found on wrong foot at so many places. Glitches in EVMs in large numbers, observers not doing their duty properly and complaints not addressed properly shows failure on the part of commission,’ said JP Dhanopia, incharge of election work of Congress.
