HP: Cong, BJP spar over EVM security

23, 2022

SHIMLA: Even as the elections to the state assembly were held over 10 days ago, there is no end to politicking as the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are indulging in war of words over the security of the electronic voting machines (EVMS).

Apprehensive about the “tampering” of the EVMS, Congress has pitched tents outside the strongrooms in at least half a dozen places where the EVMS have been stored after the elections for round-the-clock vigil.

The elections to state assembly were held on November 12 and the counting would be done on December 8. Till then the EVMS will be kept in strongrooms in three-tier security.

The opposition party workers are keeping a vigil outside the strong rooms at Dharampur, Ghumarwin, Nachan, Gagret and Paonta Sahib. In Una, the district administration had pitched three tents to facilitate the representatives of political parties. On the other hand, the BJP submitted a complaint to the chief electoral officer (CEO) accusing the Congress of violating the model code of conduct.

BJP state media co-in-charge Karan Nanda said the complaint was made by party’s election cell officials. In his complaint to the CEO, BJP election cell co-incharge Dinesh Chauhan alleged that Congress was up to some mischief and may tamper with the EVMS.

“We were informed by BJP candidates from different constituencies that Congress is up to some mischief and has been trying to gain entries in the strong rooms all over the state,” Chauhan said. He alleged that Congress workers have pitched tents outside strongrooms in which EVMS are stored and are not following the ECI guidelines. Meanwhile, Congress has denied any violation of the model code of conduct. The chairman of Congress media department Naresh Chauhan said everything was done as per the ECI guidelines.