EVMs to remain in strong rooms

The 64,190 control units and 1,14,748 ballot units used in the Lok Sabha elections will be kept in strong rooms with armed police guard for six months.

Talking to The Hindu, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said a decision would be taken on the EVMs after six months.

In the event of any case being filed before a court challenging the declaration of results in a particular constituency, the EVM used in that constituency will be retained for the purpose of data stored in.

Sources in poll machinery said with the winning margins having been huge, the chance of challenging the results was very remote.

There were some problems in retrieving the data from EVMs in some constituencies, but were rectified immediately. In cases where the snags could not be rectified, the poll machinery looked at the margin i.e., the difference in votes polled by the winner and the runner-up.

If the margin had been huge, the votes polled in the particular EVM unit was not taken into account with the consent of the Election Commission, as it would not change the electoral prospects of a candidate in the fray. The sources said such glitches were reported from Namakkal and Sivaganga constituencies.

The question of parties losing the recognition for failing to get the required number of votes did not arise, as all the recognised parties, three State-level and six national-level, had polled the required number of votes, Mr. Kumar added.