EVM tampering issue: EC to hold all party meet; likely to give ‘hacking challenge’

EC set to hold meet with various political parties over EVM tampering issue/ (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Amid the massive debate over the credibility of EVM machines used by the Election Commission during the Assembly elections, the election Commission is set to meet representatives of 55 political parties on Friday to put forth its stand on the issue. The meeting is set to begin at 10 am on Friday. The commission has called for a meeting with seven national and 48 state parties. This came after questions were raised over reliability of EVMs and 16 parties urged EC to revert to the ballot paper system claiming faith of people in the machines has eroded. Days before the scheduled meet, the Aam Admi Party had staged a demonstration in the Delhi Assembly on hacking a voting machine. The EC had trashed AAP's claim saying the 'machine is a look-alike and not the ECI-EVM'. The date of the proposed challenge would be decided after the all-party meeting. Some parties have demanded they be allowed access to the machines used in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Disqualifying candidates named in a charge sheet for bribing voters, making electoral graft a non-bailable offence and easing of rules to order counting of votes through paper trail are some of the other issues Election Commission will discuss with political parties tomorrow. "The Election Commission has convened a meeting with all recognised national and state political parties on May 12 in New Delhi to discuss issue related to EVM and VVPAT”. "In addition to the EVM/VVPAT, the agenda will also cover making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules," it had said in a statement last week.