After defeat, parties make EVMs a scapegoat: CEC

KOLKATA: Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat on Saturday hit out at political parties opposed to electronic voting machines saying EVMs are being made a “scapegoat” as the machines cannot speak.

“Political parties that cannot take defeat need to blame someone,” Rawat said while ruling out any possibility of bringing back ballot papers in the elections.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with the (EVM) system. Whenever there are eruptions on this, we clarify the issue. Last July it was announced at an all-party meeting that all elections henceforth would be conducted using EVMs coupled with voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines. VVPAT is also being used along with EVMs for enhanced transparency and credibility in the voting process,” the CEC said. “It is creditworthy that despite such a large electorate, the Election Commission is able to publish results in just a few hours,” he added.


The CEC who met the chief electoral officer of West Bengal to discuss poll preparedness and roll revision set to rest speculation over the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls saying there has been no intimation from the government as yet. “The Election Commission under the law can issue notification for election to any House not before six months before the expiry of that House. That is the legal binding on the EC. We will go by the law,” Rawat said.

He said in 2015 the central government proposed for a simultaneous state and central election. “The commission gave all the suggestions to the government. It requires changes in constitution and also changes in law. Logistic support will also be required. We gave suggestion to the government. After that, we are not aware (of it),” he added.

On the recently concluded panchayat polls and bypolls, Rawat said: “Just after the panchayat election there was one bypoll in Mahestala where there was no problem regarding law and order. We will do everything to ensure free and fair election”.