They have for years been demanding the CEC to return back to ballot papers to ensure trust in the voting systems.
Quamar Ashraf
New Delhi: In a late night development on Wednesday, the Election Commission removed Varanasi Additional District Magistrate NK Singh and three other officials from poll duty after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accusation of EVM theft. However, the EC Yadav’s accusations of EVM tampering to suit the ruling BJP in the state.
The issue of EVM tampering and theft received huge traction across social media with leaders of almost all non-BJP formation raising doubts on the functioning of the electronic machines. They have for years been demanding the CEC to return back to ballot papers to ensure trust in the voting systems. While the top BJP leaders, including LK Advani and Sumbramanian Swamy, in past had too raised doubts on EVM, of late the BJP chose to keep itself off the issue.
According to a report published in a section of press, three other officers were stripped of poll duties amid the ongoing EVM row and were replaced on EC’s orders. These included the nodal officer handling EVMs in Varanasi, a returning officer in Sonbhadra and an additional poll officer in Bareilly, according to PTI. Experts said that NK Singh should have brought out the EVMs in a sealed vehicle and informed the contesting parties and local election authorities. He took out the EVMs ahead of scheduled time without intimating his superiors, sources said.
The BJP is seeking its second terms in UP.
