Madhya Pradesh elections: EVMs have mysterious powers, says Rahul Gandhi

BHOPAL: Taking a dig at mishandling of EVMs in the state, AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged party workers to be vigilant during counting of votes on December 11.
Citing the "strange" behaviour of EVMs in Madhya Pradesh, Rahul tweeted, "Congress party workers, it's time to be vigilant. In MP, EVMs have behaved strangely after polling. Some stole a school bus and vanished for two days.Others slipped away and were found drinking in a hotel. In Modi's India, the EVMs have mysterious powers. Stay alert."
As counting day approaches, Congress party is keeping a strict vigil on EVMs and strong rooms. On Thursday, all party candidates were called for a meeting and given a two-and-half hour training on how to keep a hawk-eye on EVMs and postal ballots.
Meanwhile, leader of opposition Ajay Singh visited the Commission office and submitted three separate memorandums. In one, he raised the issue of postal ballots, while in in the other he sought counting of VVPAT slips in those seats where there is a close fight and in the third letter urged the EC that video CDs of counting should be provided, if candidates ask for them.
"The Election Commission's order states that vote-counting process will be recorded on video. It is also in the order that if a candidate demands, he should be provided a copy of the video CD. This is cited as a provision in the returning officers' hand book 2018 section 15.14.9," the LoP's memorandum said. He urged chief election officer VL Kantarao to instruct returning officers to provide video CDs of counting to Congress candidates.Ajay Singh claimed that in the last assembly elections, there were large number of complaints regarding misuse of postal ballots. He said rules regarding counting of postal ballots were violated.
"The Election Commission's provisions are that only those postal ballots will be counted that reach the counting table at least half-an-hour before scheduled EVM vote counting time. Those received later can neither be opened nor counted," the LoP's second letter to EC said. The senior Congress leader also sought counting of VVPAT slips for physical verification of votes in constituencies where the winning margin is slim. Ajay Singh said that under section 15.23.2 of the returning officers' hand book, counting of VVPAT slips is allowed when winning margin is thin.