Extra Votes Credited To Congress, Not BJP During Mock Poll: Goa CEO

As we are in the middle of the 17th Lok Sabha election, which has seen EVM malfunctioning on multiple occasions. Last week, Goa’s Aam Admi Party chief Elvis Gomes alleged that during mock polling, the Bharatiya Janata Party received 17 votes. The only problem was that during this mock polling, each party was allocated a quota of 9 votes. Replying to Gomes’s tweet, CEO Goa Election replied that the entire set of EVM is replaced.

Entire set of EVM has been replaced for AC 34, PS No 31 as per report from DEO South Goa. https://t.co/MNIwGUdAcU

— CEO Goa Election (@CEO_Goa) April 23, 2019

However, in a press statement released on April 26, the Goa Chief Electoral Officer refuted the earlier claims, saying that the extra votes actually went to Congress.

“Completely false, misleading and factually incorrect”

“It is abundantly clarified that the allegation of 17 votes being cast for BJP candidate during the first mock-poll with the defective machine is completely false, misleading and factually incorrect. In fact, during the said mock poll, 17 votes were recorded in favour of the Indian National Congress candidate Sh Cosme Francisco Caitano Sadinha,” said the press statement.

Press Release on Outcome of First Mockpoll in AC 34, PS 32 in South Goa P.C.
Allegation of 17 votes being cast for BJP candidate during first mockpoll with defective machine is factually incorrect, in fact during first mockpoll 17 votes were recorded in favour of INC candidate. pic.twitter.com/Ierm1OnZJf

— CEO Goa Election (@CEO_Goa) April 26, 2019

While saying that the commission is committed to ensuring the ‘accuracy, transparency and credibility” of the EVM-VVPAT based voting process, it also mentioned that the public and stakeholders mustn’t heed to malicious and ‘motivated rumours’.

It may be noted that The Logical Indian, in its article posted that the extra votes during the mock polling were credited to the BJP candidate, was based on Gomes’s tweet and Goa CEO’s subsequent reply without providing clarification at that time.

Entire set of EVM has been replaced for AC 34, PS No 31 as per report from DEO South Goa. https://t.co/MNIwGUdAcU

— CEO Goa Election (@CEO_Goa) April 23, 2019

Reports of EVM malfunctioning elsewhere

Goa was not the only victim in the first half of the third phase election day. The state of Karnataka where voting for remaining 14 seats was going on, several EVMs failed to perform. Minister Priyank Kharge on Twitter shared about the mishap and mentioned that 20 machines broke down in Chittapur, Karnataka.

Kerala reported a new type of malfunctioning in EVMs across the various constituencies of the state. Voters had complained that they felt cheated when they voted for one party, but the light next to the symbol of another party glowed.

In Kerala, if you press 'Hand' symbol, light shows as 'Lotus'.
How is that all 'faulty EVMs' select only BJP?#LokSabhaElections2019 #Votinground3 #BattleOf2019 #Phase3 #Trivandrum #Kerala pic.twitter.com/2naZ1Q5jM7

— Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) April 23, 2019

The New Indian Express in a report mentioned that numerous malfunction of EVMs were reported from the state and as many as 20 malfunctioning EVMs have been reported in Kasaragod whereas five developed technical glitches in Kayankulam. In Kizhakke Nalpathu near Cherthala, faulty EVMs were replaced after the EC was informed that all the votes went in favour of the BJP. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan too could not escape from the grasp of faulty EVMs, as he had to wait while casting his vote. Vijayan told the reporters that the EC had failed to deliver sound EVMs which caused him in a delay to vote in Kannur district. BJP’s candidate and Rahul Gandhi’s opponent in Wayanad, Thushar Vellappally wrote to the EC complaining that the citizens failed to cast their votes due to faulty EVMs.

Faulty EVM in a booth at Kizhakke Nalpathu near Cherthala was replaced after it was found that all votes were getting registered to #BJP#KeralaElections
Live @ https://t.co/dzFHMEnS88 pic.twitter.com/o5ysV6s1OJ

— Onmanorama (@OnmanoramaLive) April 23, 2019

Alleging reports of malfunctioning of hundreds of EVMs surfaced after the Samajwadi Party alleged foul play. Samajwadi Party candidate, Abdullah Azam’s son, alleged that more than 300 EVMs were malfunctioning.

Also Read: Goa: During Mock Polling, BJP Receives 17 Votes Out Of Allocated Quota Of 9 Votes