Complaints of 'rigged EVMs' marred voting at several booths in Kanpur and Meerut districts, as they went to polls along with 24 other districts in the first phase for urban local bodies' elections in Uttar Pradesh.
For the first time in the history of local body polls, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used for voting in 16 Nagar Nigams. However, ballot papers are still being used in the polling for Nagar Palika Parishad and Nagar Panchayats.
In Kanpur alone, the returning officer changed as many as 77 alleged rigged EVMs to resume polling after violent protests by Opposition parties. The Samajwadi Party, Congress and the BSP charged the ruling BJP was using rigged EVMs to win polls.
In both Kanpur and Meerut, many people complained that when they pressed the EVM button, their votes went either to the BJP or NOTA. "I had pressed the button to vote for the BSP, but EVM flashed that the vote was for BJP," said Ramesh Kumar at Macharia in Kanpur.
The incident led to widespread protests outside the polling station and police had to use mild force to disperse the agitated demonstrators. Similar complaints wer reported from Harsh Nagar, Tiwaripur, Mani Ram Bagia and few other booths in Kanpur.
On complaints of voters, the presiding officer Shiv Ram also checked the EVM and said that he found the complaints "genuine". He then stopped the polling and informed the returning officer Surendra Singh.
Within half-an-hour, about 77 EVMs were changed at different booths in Kanpur. The State Election Commission, however, denied allegations of rigged EVMs.
State Industries Minister Satish Mahana rubbished the allegations. "Such wild allegations were leveled during 2017 Assembly polls also. The Election Commission had conducted an inquiry but nothing was found," he claimed.
State Election Commissioner SK Agarwal assured to hold inquiry if any one comes with proof.
ISSUES POP UP
- In both Kanpur and Meerut, many people complained that when they pressed the EVM button, their votes went either to the BJP or NOTA.
- On complaints of voters, the presiding officer Shiv Ram also checked the EVM and said that he found the complaints “genuine
