Acting on the reports that VVPAT was only dispensing slips of BJP symbol during a demonstration exercise, the Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the district poll authorities in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has raised the issue with the poll panel demanding a through enquiry into it. A Congress delegation also met the EC on the issue demanding probe.
An Assembly bypoll is due in Bhind next week and the demonstration was part of the familiarisation exercise. “We have sought a detailed report from district election officer,” an EC official said.
As per the reports, the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system generated a slip with the BJP’s lotus symbol when local election officials were checking the arrangements and had pressed the button for the Samajwadi Party candidate. Reports said that the local Congress party leaders have also said that they would approach the Election Commission for an inquiry. They also demanded that by-elections should be held via ballot paper and not EVMs.
Following enough controversies on the issue, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Saleena Singh on Saturday denied the reports that VVPAT dispensed only BJP slips. She said her office and the district poll authorities had sent reports on the issue to the Election Commission.
“During the demonstration, the VVPAT first dispensed a slip with (BJP's) lotus symbol but the second one had (Congress') hand symbol,” she said.
Asked about the reports that she threatened to send media persons to jail if they continued to say that VVPAT was dispensing only BJP slips, Singh said, "It was in a lighter vein." Some elements, not media persons, twisted the issue," she added.
VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box but the voter cannot take it home. The reports also said that the receipt showed the vote going to BJP, irrespective of button pressed, during the demonstration. The reports also claimed that Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Madhya Pradesh, Saleena Singh was seen telling journalists that the news should not appear in newspapers, else they would be detained at the police station.
On earlier occasions also, many political parties including AAP and BSP led by Mayawati have raised questions on functioning of EVMs.