File Photo
TFP Bureau, Raipur; Nov 29,2023: Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Reena Babasaheb Kangale affirmed the Election Commission’s unwavering commitment to a fair and peaceful counting of votes, emphasizing extensive security arrangements for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots. Addressing concerns raised in Bijapur district, Mrs. Kangale dismissed allegations of EVMs being kept in the open instead of the strong room, clarifying that the claims were baseless
In response to the complaint, the Chief Electoral Officer clarified that the electronic voting machines in question, for which serial numbers were provided to candidates for training, were transported to the Collectorate Conference Hall in Bijapur, the designated training venue. A photograph was taken during this process, reinforcing the transparency of the operation.
Regarding additional concerns about ballot boxes found open on-site and torn ballot papers scattered, Mrs. Kangale clarified that the envelopes depicted in publicized photos and videos were brown, whereas official envelopes for postal ballots in Legislative Assembly elections are pink. This inconsistency indicated that the images did not represent postal ballots or their envelopes. Instead, they captured the installation of symbols in pigeon holes prepared for counting VVPAT slips in the office of the District Election Officer, Bijapur.
Mrs. Kangale further explained that the steel boxes shown in the photos were containers at the District Election Officer’s office, housing various election materials. The images and videos, on which the complaint was based, were deemed misleading and baseless. The Election Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and urged stakeholders to rely on accurate information as the vote counting process unfolds.
