Cong delegation meets EC, alleges tinkering of EVMs

AFTER SHOCK DEFEAT IN HARYANA

- VINAY KUMAR

NEW DELHI: A day after suffering a shock defeat in Haryana, a delegation of Congress leaders met the Election Commission on Wednesday and lodged a complaint, alleging that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been hacked.

Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said the hacking occurred across 20 seats, for seven of which they have submitted documentary evidence. The papers for the other 13 will be submitted within 48 hours, he said.

“We have requested that all the machines be sealed and secured until investigations are completed,” Khera told journalists. The party, he said, has submitted evidence of hacking in Karnal, Dabwali, Rewari, Panipat City, Hodal, Kalka, and Narnaul.

Counting of votes in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner is the hallmark of any electoral process that claims to adhere to the principles of free and fair elections and the doctrine of a level playing field as envisaged by the Constitution," the party's memorandum to the EC said.

"It is a shocking result.

Everyone said Congress would form the government," said former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was the face of the Congress campaign and the party's Chief Ministerial candidate.