SP chief Akhilesh accuses BJP of purloining EVMs
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New Delhi: Samajwadi Party(SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused BJP of " stealing" votes as well as intercepting trucks carrying EVMs at least in three districts including Varanasi.
The state's chief electoral officer clarified that EVMs were taken to Varanasi for training polling officers on Wednesday. "EVMs used in polling are sealed and guarded and are being observed through 24×7 monitoring", the chief reported as saying.
The SP leader on Wednesday in a press conference in Lucknow described the state's administration indulging in vote fraud.
"In Varanasi, EVMS were being transported. Boxes were recovered from a garbage disposal truck in Bareilly. There were three boxes. One had plain ballot papers, while there were also ballot papers with seals. In Sonbhadra as well, EVMs were being taken when people apprehended them. You can confirm from the district magistrate that calls are being made from Lucknow that in places where the BJP is losing, the counting process should be slow and extended till evening," the former chief minister said.
Responding to media in Varanasi DM Kaushal Sharma said the truck that was stopped by people was carrying 20 machines. People had confusion that polling EVMs were being transported.
"All the candidates, magistrates have been called here to clarify the same. There were 20 machines that were for training. They are not connected with polling EVMs. A hard copy of the machines that were used in polling will be given to the candidates. Also, we have decided that the training will be carried out without the EVMs. Other issues will be probed," Sharma said.
Akhilesh countered as having no information about transporting of ballots. He asked why the candidates were not informed of EVMs being take for training officers. Going personal he described having known the chief electoral officer sSP chief Akhilesh accuses BJP of purloining EVMsince he was posted in Muzaffaranagar. "He is letting things happen" SP chief charged, adding," He will say what the party (BJP) wants him to say."
