EVMs used in DUSU polls may have been procured privately : Election Commission
New Delhi: The Delhi Election Commission on Thursday said that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) polls do not belong to it and appear to have been procured privately by the university.
The clarification came following reports in the media concerning "glitches" in EVMs which led the authorities to stop the counting process for some time.
"With reference to the caption being shown in some news channels regarding use of EVMs in the elections of DUSU...it is to inform that the EVMs in question is not of Election Commission," the Delhi poll panel said in a communication to an official of the Election Commission of India.
It said that "no such EVMs have been allotted/ issued to Delhi University by this office".
In its clarification, the Commission also said: "It was also confirmed from the State Election Commission that no such machines have been given by them, too."
"It seems that the Delhi University had procured these machines privately."
The Commission said a detailed report in this regard will be sent subsequently as all officials of the Delhi University are currently busy in the election process.
Counting for the DUSU polls was stopped by the election committee due to a "glitch in EVMs" following which supporters of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS)-All India Students' Association (AISA) alliance raised slogans against the university authorities demanding resumption of counting.
An official from the Delhi University's election committee confirmed that the EVMs for the DUSU polls were procured from a private vendor as the Delhi Election Commission refused to allot them the machines.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
