Former Minister Alleges EVM Irregularities in Bhopal South-West Assembly Election
Former minister P C Sharma addressed a press conference on Monday, highlighting an election petition case pending in the Supreme Court and raising allegations of serious irregularities in the election process for the Bhopal South-West assembly constituency.
Supreme Court Takes Cognisance of the Matter
Sharma stated that the Supreme Court, in an order dated March 23, has taken cognisance of the seriousness of the issue and issued notices to the respondent BJP candidate. The next date of hearing is scheduled for July 23, indicating the court's active involvement in scrutinising the claims.
Details of the Election and Alleged Discrepancies
The voting for the Bhopal South-West assembly constituency took place on November 17, 2023, during the state assembly elections, with Sharma as the Congress candidate. The counting of votes occurred on December 3, 2023, and the BJP candidate, Bhagwandas Sabnani, was declared the winner.
Sharma alleged significant discrepancies in the results. He claimed that he received approximately 25% more votes in the ballot paper round, while the results from the EVM machine counting showed a completely opposite outcome. According to his assertions, the BJP candidate won in EVM machines with a 99% battery level during counting, whereas the Congress party had an edge in machines with a battery level of 60% to 70%.
Withheld Evidence and Transparency Concerns
Sharma also mentioned that he possesses CCTV footage from the strong room, which he believes indicates alleged tampering of EVM machines. After the elections, he requested this CCTV footage and other technical information from the counting site under the Right to Information Act. However, the Election Commission did not provide it, citing court orders as the reason for withholding the information.
Additionally, information regarding the capacity and usage of batteries used in EVM and VVPAT machines was sought from the manufacturing company. The company refused to provide this data, labelling it as highly confidential information.
Questions Raised About Election Transparency
Sharma argued that such secrecy and concealment of information raise serious questions about the transparency of the election process. He alleged that the functioning of the Election Commission is under suspicion and has undermined the concept of fair elections, casting doubt on the integrity of the electoral system.
Confidence in Supreme Court and Ongoing Protests
With the matter currently pending in the Supreme Court, Sharma expressed full confidence that the judiciary will bring out the truth and protect democracy, ensuring accountability in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Congress party staged a protest on Monday at Roshanpura against the BJP-led state government and the Centre. The protest focused on issues such as inflation, price hikes of LPG cylinders, and petrol, highlighting broader economic concerns alongside the election allegations.
