The Election Commission of India on Friday said it would offer political parties an opportunity to prove that electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the recent Assembly polls were tampered with.
A “challenge” is on the cards, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said at a meeting with political parties, going on record for the first time the Commission’s proposed move to counter allegations of EVM tampering.
“Although use of VVPAT [voter verifiable paper audit trail system] with EVMs will ensure total credibility and transparency and put to rest all controversy, the Commission will, after today’s meeting, hold a challenge,” he said.
The Commission would offer an opportunity to political parties to demonstrate that the EVMs used in recent elections were tampered with or that EVMs could be tampered with even under strict technical and administrative safeguards as applicable during elections, Mr. Zaidi said.
He, however, did not give any date for the proposed challenge.
Mr. Zaidi also said the Commission had “no favourites” and it was equidistant from all parties.“You should be convinced that the Election Commission has no favourites...we maintain equidistance from all parties and groups. It is our constitutional and moral duty to stand dead centre of the circle drawn around us by 56 political parties [seven national and 49 State recognised parties],” he said.
His remarks come in the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal reportedly questioning the independence of Election Commissioners A K Joti and O P Rawat.
He had claimed in an interview that the two were close to the BJP governments in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh respectively.
Following the allegations, Mr. Rawat recused himself from the cases related to the disqualification of AAP MLAs the Commission is hearing.
Video: R.V. Moorthy
Days before Friday's meeting, the AAP held a ''demonstration'' in the Delhi Assembly on ''hacking'' a ''voting machine.'' The party used an ''EVM prototype'' for the ''demonstration''. But the Commission trashed the AAP’s claim, saying the ''machine is a look-alike and not the ECI-EVM.''
Some parties have demanded they be allowed access to the machines used in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Sixteen Opposition parties recently told the Commission that it should revert to the paper ballot system, claiming that the faith of people in the machines has “eroded”.
Several parties, including the AAP, the BSP and the Congress had blamed ''tampered machines'' for the BJP's victory in the recentl Assembly polls.
However, Akali leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “EVMs are tamper-proof and that of the 37 cases filed so far, 30 have been decided in favour of machines. The Akalis have gracefully accepted the electoral defeat in Punjab, but the AAP has not.”
AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, who made the ''demonstration'' in the Delhi Assembly said the Commission had backed out from organising a ''hackathon”.
Any challenge of tampering with EVMs in a “controlled environment” did not serve the purpose of checking the machine’s security, he said.
To this, a Commission official said using the term “hackathon” was flawed, as the machines used by them were standalone and not linked to Internet. The challenge was to demonstrate how an EVM can be tampered with, given the EC-SOP in place to ensure secure handling of EVMs, the official added.
A representative of EVM manufacturer Bharat Electronics Limited said no further addition/sophistication of the machines would satisfy those who doubted the machines, reasoning that even cash dispensed by ATMs is counted by many people as they did not have faith in that machine.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Sanjay Saraf has accused AAP representatives of not showing any seriousness to clarify their doubts at the all-party meeting. “They were rather busy with their mobile phones. I have photographs to prove it,” he said.
BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said the AAP did not give any demonstration on a real EVM (in the Delhi Assembly).
Vivek Tankha of the Congress said the electoral system should be trustworthy enough to satisfy the voters that their votes are going to the candidates of their choice. Longer display of VVPAT chits to voter can increase transparency.
On the issue of action against candidates facing charges, he said no arrest should be made without the Commission's nod in such cases. The Commission should ensure, transparency, verifiability and authenticity.
The AAP claimed that its demands for conditions in which a demonstration of tampering with machines should be allowed was rejected by the Commission. The Commission said only its EVMs, without changing components, would be given for demonstration, as the same machines were used in real-time during polls.
AIADMK Amma leader M. Thambidurai said his party’s late leader Jayalalithaa had also raised the issue of EVMs. With the introduction of VVPAT machines, voters could be satisfied about their choice. “We have requested that apart from EVM counting, the VVPAT slips should also be counted simultaneously for crosschecking.”
He also raised the issue of State funding of election candidates.
Trinamool lCongress eader Mukul Roy demanded the reintroduction of paper ballot system.
DMDK representative G.S. Mani sought an independent impartial judicial inquiry by a retired Supreme Court Judge into the EVM issue. “Based on the findings, the Election Commission can introduce further changes, if required. We have faith in the Commission, but it is duty bound to remove doubts, if any,” he said.
DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said his party joined the EVM debate “to find out the truth”. “The Election Commission held a detailed presentation on how EVMs cannot be tampered with. We are satisfied. The VVPAT will ensure greater transparency. It is a fool-proof system, we accept it. The government has also released funds. The Commission has promised that all the EVMs will be linked to VVPAT by September 2018,” he said adding that the DMK had principally agreed to the Commission's proposal for barring candidates against whom charges of bribery are framed. ''However, certain loopholes such as possible misuse of State agencies must be plugged. So we need to deploy officials from neighbouring States.”
V. Maitreyan of the AIADMK’s Panneerselvam camp said his group was convinced with the EVM security. “Now the VVPAT will also be used in 2019 general elections. The victors will celebrate and the loses will always complain and crib,” he said.
National Conference leader Devender Singh Rana said a copy of VVPAT slips should also be saved separately for counting and crosschecking. ''Some parties have raised questions on EVM security and they need to be addressed. Only the BJP has given unequivocal support to EVM and the present electoral process.''
