While Arvind Kejriwal and Mayavati are criticizing Electronic Voting Machines Anna Hazare has ridiculed these accusations of sore loser.No doubt Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are safe in protected environment and there may be rival arguments on whether EVMs are vulnerable to fraud or not.There are several possibilities that definitely raise doubts. In this post I don’t want to make any allegations but want to put plain facts that point the finger at entire procedure followed in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC ) elections. These facts are based on documents provided by election department. Election commission has to clarify on those doubts.
In ward no 33 around 5 ballot units were changed without
any reason or notice to candidates and in same ward in around 21 booths sequence of ballot unit
was changed. However due to lack of awareness nobody complained. This is
something very serious. Before actual voting day EVM's were sealed in presence
of candidates or their representatives. So question of change of ballot units or their sequence doesn't arise at all.
This time in PMC elections were
conducted panel wise.Each ward electors had to elect 4 candidates. Elections
were conducted in February 2017. 21 February was actual voting day and on 23
results were declared. But before that on 15th February as per procedure EVMs were checked randomised
, allotted booth wise, sequence wise and
sealed in presence of candidate or their representatives. Sequence of
candidates was also set on the same day .Copies of serial no of booth wise ballot
units (Bu) , Control unit and sequence of candidates set were given to
candidate. ( see Annexure 1).
As all the BU and CU were sealed
and kept in tight security question of any change in it does not arise at all.
However on actual polling day (21st February) when polling staff opened Ballot units serial no’s
of units were different from those recorded and sealed on 15th February.
In booth no 10,12,28, 49 and 50 Ballot
unit numbers were P44052, P 43551, MO22334, P143888 & P14390 respectively (see Annexure 1).But on actual poling day
those were P14992, P11947, MO23334, P 14386 & Mo 27617 respectively ( Annexure2) . If on voting day Ballot units are found faulty they can be changed after
following proper procedure. Then how come these ballot units were changed ? Isn’t
this serious?.
Control Unit numbers are also
different in booth no 24 and 30 in copy handed over to candidate those were M22232
and M 21591 but on actual polling day those were changed to 7507 and 21595 respectively ( Annexure 3). In
some cases on polling day control unit or ballot unit numbers were not recorded
at all ( Annexure 4)
Sequence of ballot units was also
changed in almost 20 booths. As per rules Ballot Unit should be connected to control
unit according sequence allotted to them only. Changing that sequence amounts
to exchange of votes to another candidates. In ward no 33 almost on 20 booths
sequence of ballot units was changed. In
booth no 1,5,8,11,15, 17,18,2224,32,40,54,57,62,65,66,71,76 and 79 ballot unit 1 was connected to 2 and 2 to 1 (Annexture 5). This is also serious because
machine doesn’t read panel number or names of candidates . It reads numbers
serially.
In the nutshell somebody from the
system itself or from outside had access to the sealed machines and strong rooms. Election
commissions has to clarify on these issues.
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