Priyank Kharge wants private firms to be allowed to participate in EVM hackathon

IT Minister Priyank Kharge, who had invited the Election Commission of India to hold its EVM hackathon in Bengaluru, is now not happy that only political parties have been invited to make an attempt to evaluate or tamper the machines.

Earlier, Kharge had announced that the Karnataka government was ready to host the hackathon as Bengaluru is IT capital of the country. He had argued that the EC should restore confidence among people by proving that EVMs are foolproof. The IT department was ready to participate in the hackathon, he had said.

The hackathon, organised by the EC,  is going to be held in Delhi from June 3 in two phases. Some political parties including the Congress party and AAP had expressed doubts that EVMs could be tampered with. Hence, the EC has organised the hackathon to provide an opportunity for political parties to prove their charges.

Those parties which had participated in the assembly elections held earlier this year are allowed to participate in it. Each party can send three people to evaluate and assess the machines. The outcome will be judged by a team of technical experts working independently with a panel, the EC has announced.

Replying to a question, the minister said the Karnataka government would not be sending anyone. But the Congress party in Delhi may send participants, he added.

However, in Karnataka a couple of startups have come forward accepting the challenge of the EC.  However, he was not ready to disclose the names of the firms.“We are looking at their capability.

Also, the Election Commission has invited only political parties to participate in the hackathon. So no company can participate on its own. Even individuals cannot participate. Private companies will not be ready to represent political parties at the hackathon. The EC should have allowed even individuals and tech companies to participate,” he said.

Asked why not the Congress party’s IT wing or technical cell members make an attempt to prove the machines could be tampered with, Kharge said, “It is left to the INC to decide. But I strongly feel that private companies should have been allowed to participate. We, politicians have expressed apprehensions. We have raised an issue which needs to be answered. But we are not technically qualified to handle the machines. Why not allow companies which have been listed in the Fortune 500 list to participate? Let R&D centres of tech companies be allowed.”

The intention should be re-establish credibility in EVMs. Unfortunately, the EC has not given such opportunity, he added.