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I.N.D.I.A. Bloc Against Itself, TMC MP Challenges Congress To Prove How EVMs Can Be ‘Hacked’

December 16, 2024, 4:29 pm

Trinamool Congress and the Indian National Congress both part of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) bloc coalition differ on Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) tampering debate which has been now and again a contentious point of discussion on doubts about how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been managing to win, and or rigging the elections.

With the Opposition raising questions on the reliability of the EVMs, TMC MP and party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday differed with the Congress on the issue.

He termed the allegations as “just random statements” and demanded that people making such allegations should demonstrate how the EVMs can be “hacked”.

“The people who raise questions on EVM, if they have anything then they should go and show a demo to the Election Commission. If work is done properly at the time of EVM randomisation and the people who work on the booth check during mock polls and counting, then I don’t think there is any substance in this allegation,” he said.

“If still someone feels that EVMs can be hacked, then they should meet the Election Commission and show how EVMs can be hacked…Nothing can be done by just making random statements…,” the TMC MP added.

Earlier the Congress had raised doubts on the EVMs after the party lost the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The party even met the Election commission raising doubts on the electoral process in Maharashtra
“EVM is a part of the election process. There are issues in the entire election machinery in the Maharashtra assembly elections and targeted manipulation has taken place…The results of the Maharashtra assembly elections are impossible. No one can understand them…We have raised questions on the entire election machinery which is very dangerous for democracy,” Jairam Ramesh had told ANI on December 1.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday took a jibe at the Congress alleging that the party only found faults with EVMs when they lost elections.

“Whenever the Congress party loses elections, instead of introspecting, they blame someone else. Unless they introspect, they will not win elections…When they (Congress) form governments in Karnataka, Jharkhand, there is no problem with EVMs, but when they lose Maharashtra, they blame EVMs,” Fadnavis said.

Also read: Ursid Meteor Shower 2024: Date, Time, And Where To See The Final Meteor Display

The BJP has also raised questions on the credibility of the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters, “Congress should try to realise it at least when people of I.N.D.I. Alliance say this. They don’t understand it when we say this but now even their allies are saying this…At least now they should understand, they should realise that they won’t be able to go ahead with a leader like Rahul Gandhi. (West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee is also saying this, as NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and (Samajwadi party chief) Akhilesh Yadav as well…,” Joshi told reporters.
The Union Minister also underlined the importance of a strong opposition in a democracy.

“What I feel personally is, that the Congress party should realise themselves, they should understand what is their mistake, and they should introspect what is their problem. We also want constructive opposition. We do not want Congress or the Opposition completely weak. That is not what we want. Opposition is as important as ruling (government at the centre) in democracy…,” he added.

EC dismisses Congress’ allegations over Haryana poll results, reaffirms EVM Integrity

October 16, 2024, 3:38 am

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday firmly dismissed allegations from the Congress about tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Haryana asserting that that EVMs are 100% foolproof. Addressing the charges, Kumar reiterated the reliability and integrity of EVMs, which have come under scrutiny following the recent Haryana Assembly election results.

Kumar responded directly to Congress’ complaints, which focus on the functioning of EVMs in 20 assembly constituencies. He stated that the Election Commission (EC) would address each concern in a detailed, “fact-by-fact” manner. “We will respond to all 20 complaints individually, with facts by sending a detailed reply to all the candidates,” said Kumar during a press briefing.

The controversy escalated after Congress candidates alleged that certain EVMs showed a 99% battery charge even after an entire day of use during the counting process on October 8 in the state. These complaints prompted Congress to question the credibility of the machines and demand explanations from the Election Commission.

However, the CEC was resolute in his defense of the voting system. “EVMs are 100 percent foolproof, If questions are raised today, we will respond with clarity again tomorrow. The public itself answers these questions by actively participating in the electoral process.” Kumar pointed to the high voter turnout as evidence of the public’s continued faith in the democratic system and the EVMs.

The complaints from Congress came in the wake of the party’s unexpected defeat in the Haryana Assembly elections, where it failed to secure a majority, despite expectations of a resurgence following 10 years of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule. On October 9, senior Congress leaders, led by General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission highlighting concerns about alleged irregularities in the election process in 20 constituencies.

Congress further intensified its efforts by submitting an updated memorandum on October 12, detailing the party’s grievances about the EVMs. In his statement, Ramesh expressed hope that the EC would take cognizance of these complaints and act accordingly. “We have submitted clear evidence of discrepancies, and we expect the EC to issue appropriate instructions,” Ramesh said, posting his remarks on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Among the allegations are claims that the machines showed unusually high battery levels, raising suspicions of tampering. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also reiterated the party’s concerns, stating that candidates from 20 seats had formally submitted both written and verbal complaints regarding EVM malfunctions. “Our candidates have submitted their complaints, and we expect the EC to act with urgency,” Khera said.

However, CEC emphasized that EVMs have been subjected to rigorous testing and certification processes, ensuring their accuracy and reliability. He added that the machines had been used successfully in multiple elections, including those in Jammu and Kashmir, and enjoyed wide public support.

The row over EVMs comes as the Election Commission announced the dates for upcoming state assembly polls in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, with Congress leaders hoping that their concerns will be addressed before voters head to the polls in these key states. EC dismisses Congress’ allegations over Haryana poll results, reaffirms EVM Integrity

Election 2024: ECI’s Explanation Raises Questions On Vote Count Discrepancies

June 7, 2024, 4:00 pm

The Election Commission (ECI) on Thursday addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding discrepancies between the votes polled and votes counted in the recent 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The clarification came after a user on social media platform X alleged significant discrepancies, sometimes amounting to thousands, between the total votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the total votes counted.

Reasons for Discrepancies

Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer responded, detailing that such differences can arise due to specific protocols in place. According to the poll body, votes from some polling stations are not counted if:

Mock Poll Data Issues: The Presiding Officer fails to clear mock poll data from the Control Unit before starting the actual poll or does not remove mock poll slips from the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
Form 17-C Mismatch: There is a mismatch between the total votes polled in the Control Unit and the record in Form 17-C prepared by the Presiding Officer due to an error.

These votes are only counted at the end if their total is equal to or greater than the margin between the first and second candidates. If the total is lower than the margin, these votes are not counted, leading to observed differences between votes polled by EVMs and votes counted, explained the Election Commission.

In every constituency that I (randomly) checked, there is a difference between total votes cast on #EVMs and total votes counted, sometimes to the tune of thousands. Highlighting just a few cases below.

Why should there be any difference? 1/n pic.twitter.com/wkmWOtapG8

— Aniket Aga (@AgaAniket) June 6, 2024

Close Contests and Margins

The counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was completed on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, and with its allies, reached a total of 293 seats. The opposition alliance, INDIA bloc, garnered over 230 seats in the new parliament, with the Congress party’s tally reaching 100 after independent MP Vishal Patil extended his support.

In several constituencies, results were determined by narrow margins. One of the closest contests was in the Mumbai North West constituency in Maharashtra, where Ravindra Dattaram Waikar of Shiv Sena edged out Amol Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena (UBT) by a mere 48 votes. Another tight race occurred in Kerala’s Attingal constituency, where Adoor Prakash of the Indian National Congress (INC) narrowly defeated V Joy of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) by 684 votes.

Public Reaction

The clarification by the Election Commission (ECI) comes in response to widespread public concern and discussions on social media. The allegations of discrepancies had sparked debates about the integrity of the electoral process, with some users expressing outrage while others found the explanations satisfactory.

As the Election Commission(ECI) continues to address these concerns, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and accuracy in the electoral process, reinforcing the faith of the electorate in the democratic system.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP’s Sambit Patra Raises Concerns Over EVM Malfunctions In Puri

May 25, 2024, 10:05 am

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha seat, Sambit Patra, voiced serious concerns on Saturday regarding malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at multiple polling stations in Puri, urging the Election Commission to take immediate action.

Polling is currently underway in six Lok Sabha seats and forty-two assembly constituencies in Odisha as part of the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Patra emphasized that voters, including senior citizens, were experiencing significant delays, with some waiting up to two hours to cast their ballots.

“For 2 hours people are waiting here to cast their vote, they are going back. Up till now, the EVM machine is not working. The Election Commission should definitely take action on this and give an extension of time,” Patra stated. He added, “I am still waiting outside my booth, senior citizens are going back. People think that this is strategically being done. This is not the right thing in this festival of democracy. The Election Commission wants people to vote. It must take action on this.”

Earlier today, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra offered prayers at a temple in Puri. Speaking to the media, he said, “I have offered prayers before casting my vote. I want to appeal to people to come out and cast their votes. I have the blessings of my family. I want to thank BJP and PM Modi for supporting and blessing me.”

Recently, just days before the elections in his constituency, Patra faced controversy after making a remark that sparked significant criticism from the opposition. He told a local news channel that “Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi,” a statement he later referred to as a “slip of the tongue.” Following this, Patra announced a three-day fast, stating he would offer penance to Lord Jagannath as an apology.

Notably, BJP leader Sambit Patra is contesting from the Puri Lok Sabha seat against BJD leader Arup Patnaik and Congress candidate Jay Narayan Patnaik. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s Pinaki Misra defeated BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. In that election, the BJD won the majority of seats in the state, while the BJP and the Congress trailed behind. The BJD secured 12 seats, the BJP finished a close second with 8 seats, and the Congress won only one seat.

EVM-VVPAT issue: SC rejects petition seeking 100% verification votes

April 26, 2024, 12:03 pm

The Supreme Court declined the petitions requesting 100 percent cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) during elections. It also dismissed the plea to revert to paper ballot from EVMs.

Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, delivering the order, stated that they thoroughly discussed the protocols and technical aspects before rejecting all the pleas. They affirmed, “We have rejected the prayer for paper ballot voting, complete EVM-VVPAT verification, and physical deposit of VVPAT slips.”

Supreme Court rejects all the petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. pic.twitter.com/z3KEvhUaAP

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

Regarding the EVM-VVPAT verification case, the court emphasized the importance of a balanced perspective, cautioning against blind distrust in the system, which could lead to skepticism. It highlighted the significance of nurturing trust and collaboration across all pillars of democracy.

While rejecting certain pleas, the court issued two directions to be followed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Firstly, it mandated the sealing and securing of Symbol Loading Units (SLU) in containers after completing the symbol loading process in VVPATs initiated on or after May 1, 2024. These containers would be stored in strong rooms along with EVMs for at least 45 days post-results. Secondly, it directed the verification of burnt memory semicontrollers in 5 percent of EVMs, including the ballot unit, control unit, and VVPAT, per assembly segment of the parliamentary constituency by a team of engineers from the EVM manufacturers.

The Supreme Court’s verdict coincided with the ongoing second phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls 2024, which began on April 19 and will conclude on June 4 with the announcement of results. The court’s decision followed extensive hearings where it interacted with an official from the ECI to comprehend the functioning and security features of EVMs and VVPATs. The ECI reaffirmed that EVMs cannot be tampered with and that complete counting of VVPAT slips was not practically feasible.

The SC verdict addressed three petitions seeking directions to tally VVPAT slips with votes cast through EVMs during polls. One petitioner sought a tally of each EVM vote against VVPAT slips, while another plea, filed by NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR),’ aimed to revert the poll panel’s 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque one. The petitioners also advocated for a return to the old system of ballot papers.

Currently, the ECI verifies VVPAT slips of EVMs from five polling booths per assembly segment in a Parliamentary constituency, following a direction by the Supreme Court in 2019 to increase the verification from one polling booth to five per assembly segment.

SC reserves verdict on EVM-VVPAT verification

April 24, 2024, 4:15 pm

The Supreme Court of India reserved its decision on a petition regarding the verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) on Wednesday, April 24, reiterating its stance that it lacks authority over the conduct of elections, a domain governed by another constitutional body. This development arises just before the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, scheduled for April 26.

The bench, led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, had previously deferred its verdict on a set of pleas advocating for comprehensive cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT on April 18. They expressed the need for clarification on certain aspects, noting confusion in the Election Commission’s responses in its ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) on EVMs.

During the hearing, Justice Datta highlighted to advocate Prashant Bhushan that no incidents of malicious program loading alongside symbols had been reported. “Out of the 5% VVPATs counted, any candidate can identify if there is any discrepancy,” Justice Datta queried.

Justice Datta further emphasized, “To date, there have been no reports of such incidents (malicious program loading alongside symbols). We cannot regulate the election, Mr. Bhushan, as that falls under the jurisdiction of another constitutional authority.”

Justice Khanna provided assurance, stating, “If there are areas for improvement, we can certainly address them. The courts have intervened twice: first, when we mandated the use of VVPAT, and second, when we increased verification from one to five percent.” The Supreme Court underscored that whenever suggestions were sought to enhance the voting process, the submissions consistently favored a return to ballot papers.

In its defense, an Election Commission official informed the apex court, “Each of the three units, CU, BU, and VVPAT, contains its own microcontrollers, securely housed within. These microcontrollers cannot be physically accessed.”

The court’s order was issued during the hearing of multiple petitions seeking thorough cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs.

One of the petitioners, the NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ (ADR), urged the reversal of the poll panel’s 2017 decision to replace transparent glass on VVPAT machines with opaque glass, allowing voters to view the slip only when the light is on for seven seconds.

The pleas also advocated for voters to be permitted a canopy of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) produced by EVM after each vote.

VVPAT serves as an independent vote verification system that enables voters to confirm whether their votes have been accurately registered.

Earlier in the day, the SC bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Dutta had raised inquiries regarding the functions of the microcontroller installed in the EVMs, the security of EVMs and VVPATs, and the maximum duration for which the machines are retained.

EVM-VVPAT issue: SC to hear petition for 100% votes verification today

April 16, 2024, 1:47 pm

The Supreme Court will consider several petitions requesting the cross-verification of votes cast via the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on Tuesday, April 16,. An elector can determine whether his vote was cast accurately by using the independent vote verification system, or VVPAT.

With the Lok Sabha elections coming up, the Supreme Court’s review of challenges on the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) for validating ballots is very important. Voters can independently confirm the veracity of their recorded votes with the help of VVPAT. These petitions highlight concerns about the process of balancing VVPAT slips and maintaining voter confidence in the electoral process.

The appeal by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) emphasizes the imperative for voters to be confident that their votes are “counted as recorded.” It calls for synchronization between the tallies in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the verifiable documentation produced by VVPATs, with the ultimate goal of bolstering voter confidence and transparency in the electoral process.

Prior directives from the court, particularly stemming from the 2013 Subramanian Swamy versus Election Commission of India case, stress the significance of voter verifiability. The current petition underscores the necessity for transparent procedures to guarantee the accurate recording and counting of votes, thus reflecting the voters’ intent.

The Supreme Court’s involvement in these petitions demonstrates continual endeavors to address concerns and uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The response from the court and subsequent measures implemented to address the issues raised by the petitioners will be of great interest.

SC asks ECI, Centre to respond to its request to count every VVPAT slip

April 2, 2024, 10:25 am

The Supreme Court issued notifications to both the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP-led central government in response to a petition requesting the comprehensive counting of all Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips in the general elections.

A bench consisting of justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta sent notifications to the ECI, acknowledging the petitions submitted by activist Arun Kumar Agrawal and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), according to news agency ANI.

The petition challenged the commission’s guidelines, which require VVPAT verification to be conducted sequentially, causing undue delays. The plea argued for simultaneous verification with increased personnel, estimating that complete VVPAT verification could be completed within 5-6 hours per assembly constituency.

It was highlighted that despite the government’s expenditure of nearly ₹5,000 crore on the purchase of almost 24 lakh VVPATs, verification currently only covers approximately 20,000 VVPAT slips.

The plea stressed the importance of counting all VVPAT slips to address concerns raised by experts regarding discrepancies between Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT vote counts, ensuring voter confidence and the integrity of the electoral process.

The court subsequently issued the notice and linked it with pending matters on the subject.

Meanwhile, the Congress welcomed the court’s attention to the matter, considering it a significant initial step and urged for a prompt resolution before the commencement of the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed via a post on X, “The Supreme Court has issued a notice today to the Election Commission on the issue of VVPATs. It bears constant repetition that the Election Commission has refused to meet a delegation of INDIA (bloc) party leaders who have been demanding 100 percent VVPATs in order to increase public confidence in EVMs and to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.”

The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) serves as an independent vote verification system, enabling voters to confirm their vote was cast accurately.

Introduced in India during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, VVPAT is a ballot-less system connected to the EVM, printing a paper slip when a voter casts their vote. The slip displays the candidate’s name and party symbol chosen by the voter, visible through a transparent window before being sealed inside the machine.

On April 8, 2019, the Supreme Court directed the ECI to increase the number of EVMs undergoing VVPAT physical verification from one to five per assembly segment in a parliamentary

Arif Alvi Dissatisfied With Pakistan Election Process

February 11, 2024, 11:06 am

Pakistan President Arif Alvi expressed his dissatisfaction with the postponed election results on Saturday, claiming that if Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been used during the February 8 general elections, the country would not be in this current dilemma, according to Geo News.
Despite the commission’s lofty claims, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) new Election Management System (EMS) failed, he stated.

Notably, some 72 hours after the elections ended, the election authority has yet to announce preliminary results for each seat.

Arif Alvi took to social media platform X(formerly Twitter) and said: “Had EVMs been there today, my dear beloved Pakistan would have been spared this crisis.”

President Alvi recalled the previous PTI-led government’s campaign for EVMs, claiming that the entire effort, which included over 50 meetings at the presidency alone, was abandoned.

“Remember ‘our’ long struggle for EVMs. EVM had paper ballots that could be counted separately by hand (like it is being done today) but it also had a simple electronic calculator/counter of each vote button pressed,” he said.

According to Geo News, if the machines had been used, the totals for each candidates would have been ready and printed within five minutes of the poll’s close.
On February 10, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) protested alleged vote manipulation and tampering in Sindh’s PS-22 constituency.

“Our [JUI-F’s] candidate was made to lose via [deliberate] change of results,” JUI-F leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro said.
“We have won by [margin of] 7,000 votes as per the Form 45s in our possession,” he said while calling for fresh elections in multiple constituencies, according to Geo News.

Amid the delay in the publishing of Pakistan’s election results, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called for a statewide protest on Sunday to safeguard the sanctity of the vote, with independent candidates leading with 100 seats.
According to the article, the decision follows the party’s central committee meeting, at which it was announced that ‘peaceful protests’ will be organized around the country to safeguard the sanctity of the vote.

The meeting also discussed election results and next action.
The core committee also discussed connection with specific political parties.
Important decisions were taken during the conference, which the party stated would be executed following consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.

Second meeting of Congress National Alliance Committee underway

December 29, 2023, 1:20 pm

At Mukul Wasnik’s home in Delhi, the Congress National Alliance Committee (NAC) is currently in session for its second meeting. This morning, a number of prominent party members were observed going into Wasnik’s home. The group was formed earlier this month to discuss possible coalitions with other political parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This is the group’s second meeting. The recently established committee met for the first time last Saturday. Mukul Wasnik, the newly appointed convenor of the NAC, stated following the committee’s first meeting that the “seat-sharing formula” will be decided upon following discussion with state units.

“We will first speak to the state units. Soon we will form a seat-sharing formula. There is no deadline set for this. But we will decide as soon as possible,” Wasnik had said, speaking to reporters after the inaugural meeting on December 23.
The Congress formed the five-member NAC, with Wasnik as convenor and veteran leaders including former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, former Union minister Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Prakash as members.
As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections loom just four months away, the allocation of seats becomes pivotal for the Congress, especially after recent electoral setbacks.
The fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc concluded in Delhi on December 19 with the passing of the resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of MPs from Parliament.