New Delhi. While announcing the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, the Chief Election Commissioner defended Electronic Voting Machines i.e. EVMs. He also raised questions on the exit polls and also targeted media groups for hastily reporting trends in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the Election Commission had started the counting at 8.30 but the trends started being shown on the channels from 8 o’clock itself. He said that this was done to justify the exit poll estimates.
While defending EVMs, Rajeev Kumar said- People ask that if in some country they blast them with a pager, then why can’t EVMs be hacked. Pager is connected brother, not EVM. Checking of EVMs starts six months in advance. To be taken to the polling centre, brought back after voting. Agents or candidates of political parties are present on every stage. He said- The battery is inserted on the day of commissioning. It is noteworthy that Congress had raised questions on the batteries of some machines being 99 percent charged on the day of voting.
However, the Chief Election Commissioner said – EVMs are commissioned five-six days before voting. On this day election symbols are cast and batteries are cast. The signature of the agent is also put on the battery. He further said – The machine goes to the strong room, there too three levels of checking takes place. The same process will happen the day the machines come out for polling. Rajiv Kumar said- There will be videography. The numbers will also be shared, this machine will go to the booth here. Then there will be checking, votes will be cast and seen. Voting took place throughout the day. Then the machine locks. After this there is signing and accounting. He said- 20 complaints have been received. We will give factual answers to every question. Will give soon. But something will come next too, it will not stop.