After ‘malfunction’ in MP, poll panel says no doubt on accuracy of EVMS

The Election Commission on Friday dismissed allegations of EVM tampering in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind and said the accuracy of voting machines was “beyond doubt”, as it sought to douse a political storm over the sensitive issue.

The poll panel cited a special team’s inquiry report to dismiss as “completely false” allegations that an EVM printed slips — voter-verified paper audit trail or VVPAT — with the BJP poll symbol lotus multiple times on pressing different buttons.

The row erupted after a purported video of an electronic voting machine (EVM) demonstration ahead of bypolls in two constituencies showed the paper trail generating a receipt for the BJP when state chief electoral officer Saleena Singh pressed the button for the Samajwadi Party candidate.

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party had expressed doubts that the EVM was brought from Uttar Pradesh implying that the BJP winning a brute majority in the recent assembly polls might have been due to EVM manipulation.

The poll panel said the special inquiry team led by Bhanwar Lal, chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh, found “no anomaly or tampering in EVM and VVPAT used during the demonstration in Ater (Bhind)” on March 31.

The committee said the “accuracy of the functioning of EVMS and VVPATS, including the said EVM/VVPAT, is beyond doubt”

The EC also said that the VVPAT used in the demonstration were brought from Uttar