Scindia raises alarm over EVM 'mishandling' in MP

Four incidents of reported mishandling of electronic voting machines (EVMs) after polling for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections on November 28 have raised the hackles of the Congress.

In Sagar district, a van without a number plate carrying EVMs of the Khurai seat reached the district headquarters in 48 hours on Friday, whereas the distance between the two places is just 25 km. State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh is the BJP candidate from the Khurai seat in Bundelkhand region.

In Bhopal, the Congress created ruckus on Friday after its workers discovered that the CCTV cameras of the strong room in the old Bhopal jail premises were closed.

The EVMs of seven constituencies are kept in the strong room which has a LED screen put up by the Election Commission for direct relay of the counting on December 11.

Bhopal collector Sudama Khede ascribed the sudden closure of the CCTV camera to short circuit in the electric supply which was restored after 90 minutes.

But the Congress is not convinced by his explanation, and wants the EC to take note of the incident.

In Satna district, Congress workers raised an alarm after they spotted empty cartons being carried inside the strong room where EVMS are kept under high security.

In Anuppur district, re-polling was held on Saturday at Mohri polling booth as EVMs failed to record 56 votes.

Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said that the incidents of EVM-tweaking indicated attempts to throttle democracy under patronage of the Shivraj Singh government.

Apprehending widespread mischief with EVMs, Scindia tweeted "sensing its imminent defeat, the BJP is bent on crushing the people’s mandate."

He urged the EC to take immediate cognisance of the matter and take corrective steps.

He also exhorted Congress workers to keep a close watch on the strong rooms till the counting day on December 11, and foil the BJP’s attempts to manipulate EVMS.