A polling party has been suspended after it was allegedly caught transporting the EVMs in a private vehicle by Congress workers in Rampur, Himachal Pradesh. The district election commission authorities said that they received information after the polling was concluded that polling party no. 146 assigned to Duttnagar-49 was carrying EVM/VVPAT in their private vehicle bearing registration number HP-03D-2023.
It said Congress workers alleged that the EVM/VVPAT machines were being transported with intention of tampering at the behest of the BJP.
"We found that the Polling Party No.146 was carrying the EVM/VVPAT machine in a private vehicle, which is a clear-cut violation of the instruction of ECI, and prima facie found that the party has not followed the due procedures and violated the ECI instruction," Returning officer (SDM) Surender Mohan said in an order.
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The police reached the spot immediately after the incident was reported and sent the EVM/VVPAT machines to the strong room. Election commission authorities closely examined the EVM/VVPAT machines in the presence of Congress and BJP workers outside the strong room, and claimed machines were Sealed properly and no tampering was found. Officials claimed that the polling party used a private vehicle in a hurry to surrender the EVM/VVPAT machines and to be free from responsibility.
The polling party members have been identified as Jagat Ram, PRO, Secondary Education GSSS Baur Nerwa, Inder Paul, PO, Secondary Education, GSSS Melandi Tehsil, Kumarsain, Rajesh Kumar, APRO, Secondary Education, GSSS Kelvi Tehsil Theog, Pradeep Kumar, PO, Elementary Education, Goverdhan Singh, Security Personnel, Department of Himachal Pradesh Police, and Vipan, Security Personnel, Department of Himachal Pradesh Police.
Earlier on Saturday, the Congress flagged a poll norm violation as it claimed carrying of EVMs in private vehicles for polling in Himachal Pradesh Election.
According to news agency PTI, the Legal and Human Rights Department of the state Congress complained to the Chief Election Officer of Himachal stating that the EVM machines have been seen to be carried to their stations (strong rooms) in unauthorised private vehicles.
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"EVMs were being transported in a private car. We followed it and informed the police and election commission authorities," Congress MLA Nand Lal said while speaking to the media.
Congress legal cell working chairman Pranay Pratap Singh said the "utterly unfortunate incident" took place in his Vidhan Sabha constituency Rampur, adding that as per the protocol, the vehicles hired to carry such machines to the strong rooms are to be requisitioned beforehand by the Election Commission or the returning officers.
Voting to elect the new government in Himachal Pradesh across 68 seats was held on Saturday. Congress workers held a protest and accused the polling party of interfering with the EVMs, prompting the district election commission authorities to immediately suspend the polling party members.
Counting of votes for Himachal Pradesh will take place on December 8.