Raising the issue of irregularities in the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the municipal elections, the State Congress has demanded use of ballot papers for casting votes in the remaining elections in four Municipal Corporations.
In a written complaint submitted by state Congress committee secretary Bhupendra Gupta has claimed that in the past Municipal Corporations held in November, 2014 during First level Check (FlC) around 50 per cent of the EVMs were found faulty which was revealed through RTI and the District Election Officer and Collector of Gwalior and Dewas are aware of the matter.
Same kind of problem was reported in Municipal Corporation elections in Ganjbasoda in which EVMs at 40 polling booths out of 58 provided greater number of votes casted than the number of voters and complaint regarding the irregularities was made with the State Election Commissioner. Seronj, Dabra and other regions also reported problems with EVMs.
In the complaint, Gupta has also mentioned that repair work of EVM in huge number in Benazir College is under process which raises suspicion of two kinds- first would be that the new EVM procured have problems and the other would be manipulation of EVMs to influence the results. Providing references of all the problems with EVM Gupta claimed that this kind of problems would dent the confidence of voters who have faith in the election commission and election process and to maintain and restore the faith of the citizens State Election Commission should conduct elections using ballot paper.
He has also demanded investigation in repair of EVMs in huge number and to provide action taken against the people behind the whole issue with the people of the state.