EC warns no mercy for applying glue or perfume to EVM buttons
New Delhi: The Election Commission has clarified that applying perfume, glue, or any other substance to the buttons of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be deemed as tampering and constitutes an electoral offense. In recent days, claims had surfaced that certain political workers were engaging in such acts to ascertain whether votes had been cast in their favor.
On Tuesday, officials stated that if any such activity is observed at a polling station, the Presiding Officer in charge must immediately report the incident to the Sector Officer or the Returning Officer.
These directives have been issued ahead of the polling scheduled for April 23 in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. An Election Commission official stated that the Commission would take strict action in such cases, and if deemed necessary, an order for re-polling could also be issued.
Strict Prohibition
Officials have instructed the Presiding Officers at all polling stations to ensure that the buttons corresponding to all candidates on the EVMs remain clean and clearly visible. No tape, glue, or any other material should be affixed to any of the buttons.
They further clarified that applying any form of color, ink, perfume, or chemical substance to the buttons of the Ballot Unit is strictly prohibited, as doing so could compromise the secrecy of the vote. If any such irregularity is detected, the Presiding Officer must immediately report it to higher authorities.
Action Will Be Taken
According to the Election Commission, all such instances will be categorized as tampering with or interfering with EVMs-a grave electoral offense. The Election Commission will initiate punitive action in all such cases.
Polling Tomorrow
Campaigning for the first phase of the Bengal Assembly elections concluded on Tuesday evening. Under the first phase, polling is scheduled to take place on April 23 across 152 constituencies spanning 16 districts of the state. A total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray for this first phase. Meanwhile, the total number of voters stands at 36,077,171, comprising 18,499,496 male voters, 17,577,210 female voters, and 465 transgender individuals.
On the final day, all political parties were seen going all out. Home Minister Amit Shah addressed four public rallies; two of these were held in North Bengal and two in South Bengal. BJP MP Hema Malini conducted a roadshow in Alipurduar, North Bengal, while Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held one in Asansol. Former Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur participated in a youth conference and a torch rally in Chinsurah, Hooghly district.
All Parties Go All Out on the Final Day of Campaigning in TN
The election campaign for the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, scheduled for April 23, came to a halt on Tuesday. On this final day of campaigning, all political parties pulled out all the stops. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, AIADMK General Secretary Palaniswami, and the Chief Minister's son, Udhayanidhi-conducted roadshows across the state and campaigned for their respective candidates.
