Bengaluru: EVMs not tampered, says Siddaramaiah after victory in by-polls


Bengaluru, Apr 13 (PTI): The Congress may be sceptical and carping about the vulnerability of electronic voting machines to tampering, but for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it is not an issue, at least in Karnataka.

"We cannot say tampering (with EVMs) has taken place in these elections," he said, buouyed by the victory of the Congress candidates in the Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly by-polls, in which the party retained both the seats in spite of a tough fight by the BJP.

His party had only spoken about the "scope" for tampering, Siddaramaiah told reporters when asked about his stand on EVMs in the light of the outcome of the by-polls.

The chief minister said he had asked the party candidates and agents to ensure that the EVMs were thoroughly checked and also told the officials to educate the voters about them.

Siddaramaiah said he was told that the EVMs used in the two by-polls had Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

His remarks come against the backdrop of a campaign launched by the Congress-led opposition on alleged EVM tampering after a string of defeats in the Assembly polls, including in Uttar Pradesh where the party was decimated.

Ratcheting up pressure on the Election Commission, the Congress had also led an opposition delegation to President Pranab Mukherjee and taken up the issue of alleged EVM tampering with him, noting that it raised bona fide concerns on the possibility of manipulating electoral outcomes.

The Congress wants a return of the old ballot paper system but there are divisions within the party on the issue.

Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily reportedly said in an interview that by questioning the reliability of EVMs, the Congress was displaying a "defeatist" mindset.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too has toed a different line from that of his party and is quoted to have said, "If the EVMs were fixed, I wouldn't be sitting here. The Akalis would be."

The EC has thrown a gauntlet at the political parties challenging the EVMs, daring them to try to hack the machines and show that they can be tampered with.

"From the first week of May, experts, scientists, technocrats can come for a week or 10 days and try to hack the machines," an official source said yesterday.

The challenge will be open for a week or 10 days.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Vijay Benedict, Mluru/Mumbai

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    Yes, Mr, Siddu,, when you party is trashed to pulp , its EVM tampering. When your party wins, there is No tampering. Come on, enough of double standards. The victory in these 2remote villages is not a revival, Besides Cong/Indira Gandhi/Kai the people here do not know anything and have not seen a city in their lives so far. Still a long way to go, dont just sleep and relax , pull up your sock and gear up for 2018, if you want Cong in the state.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vijay Benedict, Mluru/Mumbai

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    I dont understand what the celebrations are all about. These 2 remote villages are unheard of. Irrespective of this by poll results Cong will loose badly in the assembly elections. These two constituencies are never won by any other party than Cong, the ares are in pathetic condition, not even good roads and still people are foolishly​ voting for Congress party. Cong still has to go a long way for revival.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harish, Kadaba

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    During ballot paper time it was common putting bottle of ink on ballet box, and change ballot paper box etc...!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Emi, Brighton

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    EVM REMOTE CONTROL IS IN BJPS HAND. CONGRESS DOESENT KNOW ABCD OF EVM.

    DisAgree [29] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    EVM Contol Units were under lock & key ...

    DisAgree [20] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    In this by election new featured EVMs are used which could be countered @ any point of time.VVPT is new security feature which could not be tampered and it was used first time in NG and Gundlpepte .

    DisAgree [24] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    Correction

    Which Could be" COUNTER CHECKED"

    DisAgree [15] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shibu, Dubai

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    emi, same EVM machine was used in this election too
    no allegation just because congress won.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • neeth, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    You win, it's tampered.I win it's fine...as simple as that...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    VVPT is first introduced and check it's feature and it is tamper proof.

    DisAgree [5] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Frederick Paul Kadri, Kadri Mangaluru

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    Wow , What a joke ???!!! When u lose EVMs tampered and when u win it is new or not tampered,
    This win is only temporary so muçh money worked here for small win ,
    Don't worry without money BJP will win in coming election just wait and watch,
    This is Good lesson for BJP,

    DisAgree [3] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • P. Shirish Kumar, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    In Delhi BJP won with more than 15000 margin

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    Karnataka people are poor and very much uneducated than north. So congress can easily buy them.
    If congress wins again in 2018, and then there won't be any good monsoon rains in future for at least Karnataka. Totally cursed state. Most of the bjp ruled states going forward. But we are sitting back. Our karma karma...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harshith, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    First by commenting like this , it is clear that you are uneducated person . Entire nation knows karnataka is progressive state and almost all states people stay here including so called developed Gujarat.
    I think you are another Paper simha who will spoil the chances of BJP in 2018

    DisAgree [18] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    You should first understand what is happening in India.
    Karnataka is ruling the digital world through the IT sectors. on the other hand YOGI's UP is exporting good amount of Beef to the entire world.

    Jai sri ram!

    DisAgree [7] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • benedict fernandes, Bantwal, Mumbai

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    To say that EVM s are tampered by the defeated parties is like the fox saying the grapes are sour. The Election Commission is there to monitor free and fair elections.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABDUL RAFIQ, Uchila

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    Medias and BJP jokers must understand that, EVMs were tampered only in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Sister Mayawathi has filed the case in Supreme court against EVM tampering with solid evidence. Media should not ask this question to Congress leaders on every election results. As of now tampering is limited to UP only.

    DisAgree [28] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    'Sister' Mayawathi - I like that!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Logical Indian, Kudla

    Fri, Apr 14 2017

    What about brother Akhilesh..!!! lolz

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Bengaluru: EVMs not tampered, says Siddaramaiah after victory in by-polls



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.