'No Mismatch Between VVPAT Slips And EVM': Poll Body Clarifies Amid Oppn's Claim During Maharashtra Poll

In all 288 seats, a total of 1445 VVPAT slips were counted on the day of counting and there was no mismatch found in any of the VVPAT slips matching with their concerned EVM, the poll body said

The EC's clarification comes amid the claims of mismatch of VVPAT during Maharashtra polls.

Source : PTI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday ruled out a mismatch between the VVPAT slips with their concerned EVM numbers during the recently held assembly polls in the state.

The mandatory counting of VVPAT slips from five randomly selected polling stations in each assembly constituency was completed successfully.   

"During the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 as per Supreme Court of India and Election Commission of India guidelines, 5 VVPAT slips at each assembly segment were to be counted, to match it with the numbers in EVM. In all 288 assembly segments, a total number of 1445 VVPAT slips were counted on the same day of counting, which was 23rd November, and there was no mismatch found in any of the VVPAT slips matching with their concerned EVM numbers," the Electoral body said in a statement.

 

The statemenc comes amid allegations from the opposition parties in Maharashtra of electoral malpractices and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) tampering in the assembly elections in the state after the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a landslide victory in the November 20 elections. 

 

In Maharashtra's 288 assembly constituencies, officials verified a total of 1,440 VVPAT machines. Representatives of candidates and EC observers randomly selected polling stations, the statement said. There was no discrepancy found between the candidate-wise vote counts recorded in EVMs and the corresponding counts from the VVPAT slips, the EC stated.

 

On the first day of the special session of the Maharashtra Assembly, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi protested over alleged electoral malpractices claiming that "democracy has been murdered" through the misuse of EVMs. 

The ruling Mahayuti has rubbished the allegations accusing the opposition of misleading people about EVM and not accepting their mandate.

 

The counting of VVPAT slips from five polling stations in every constituency is mandatory under the Commission's guidelines. The counting process is considered incomplete and no winner can be declared until this verification is concluded, the poll body said.