Malfunctioning EVM gave vote to BJP in Buldhana Elections: RTI reveals

IANS

Despite the contrary claims by Election Commission of India, information sought through an RTI has revealed that a malfunctioning EVM would wrongly vote for BJP during Buldhana elections in Maharashtra.

The "EVM fraud" concerns the recently held elections to Buldhana Zilla Parishad from Lonar, at a polling station in Sultanpur village of the district, said RTI activist Anil Galgali.

"Everytime the voter pressed a symbol of Coconut, allotted to a candidate, the LED lamp of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Lotus used to flash. This was reported to the District Collector by the Returning Officer (RO) in his inquiry report and furnished under an RTI query," Galgali told IANS.

The activist filed his RTI query on 16 June, after learning of the aggrieved Independent candidate Asha Arun Zore’s complaint on the "EVM fraud" during the 16 February elections, and demanded details of the probe report submitted by the RO.

"The Buldhana collectorate’s election department replied that at polling station No. 56 in Sultanpur of Lonar town, when the voter pressed the Independent candidate No. 1’s Coconut symbol, the LED lamp flashed against the BJP candidate No. 4’s Lotus symbol, signifying that the vote had gone to the latter," Galgali explained.

Surprisingly, when candidate Asha Arun Zore lodged her first complaint on the EVM problems at 10 a.m that day, the Election Officer at the polling station refused to take cognizance of such a serious issue, he pointed out.

However, it was only after complaints poured in from many voters that the Election Officer finally took note around 1.30 p.m — when half the voting time had lapsed — and obtained consent of the polling agents of all parties before taking action.