No 'tampering' of EVMs: EC to Kejriwal

Locks of three 'control units' and four 'ballot units' were broken apparently during transportation and the units were replaced in the presence of general observers, it said

The Election Commission today dismissed apprehensions expressed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal that certain electronic voting machines(EVMs) have been 'tampered' with to favour BJP in the February 7 Delhi Assembly polls.

Kejriwal, who met top EC officials today, was explained the "factual position" in detail that there was no tampering with the machines' software which could result in tampering.

He was explained that locks of three 'control units' and four 'ballot units' were broken apparently during transportation and the units were replaced in the presence of general observers. An AAP representative had later signed a document which detailed the facts, EC sources said.

He was told that the faults were basically "mechanical" in nature, they said.

The sources said the machines which Kejriwal referred to belong to the post-2006 batch which have "very little" scope of tampering.

"The Election Commission has cleared all our doubts about the EVM machine issue. They said that EVMs used are latest and tamper-proof. They are all double checked," Kejriwal told reporters after meeting EC officials.

The AAP Convener was told that the EVMs and control units pass through several stages of checks before being finally used for actual voting. He was told that just before the actual polling, a mock poll is also carried out where faulty machines are replaced. Apprehensions of party representatives about EVMs are also taken note of during such mock polls.

Kejriwal had claimed yesterday that discrepancies were found during an inspection of four such machines at Delhi Cantonment area yesterday. He alleged that whatever button was pressed on the machines, the light against the BJP symbol lit up.

AAP leaders had also approached the poll body last week to know what is the procedure if a voter finds such a discrepancy in an EVM.

Kejriwal, however, did not respond to questions on whether they have got permission to put banners outside polling booths educating the voters about the EVMs.

"We urge CEC to allow us to put banners outside each booth educating voters about EVMs," Kejriwal had tweeted prior to the meeting.