Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Ahead of announcing the dates for Delhi’s assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) addressed allegations of voter roll manipulation, EVM tampering, and recent amendments limiting public access to polling CCTV footage. In a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed these claims as “baseless” while emphasizing the transparency and reliability of the electoral process.
Kumar began the session with a poetic note: “Sab sawaal ahamiyat rakhte hai, jawaab toh banta hai; aadatan kalam band jawaab dete rahe, aaj rubaroo toh banta hain. Kya pata kal ho ya na ho, aaj jawab banta hai,” setting the tone to tackle concerns openly.
No Manipulation in Voter Roll Process
The EC firmly denied allegations of wrongful additions and deletions in voter lists, stating that all changes undergo strict verification procedures. Kumar clarified that deletions are only made after mandatory field verification, submission of certified documents, and a seven-day objection period.
He said, “Where every vote matters, raising doubts about deletion of thousands of names without evidence is misleading. Political parties are involved at every stage of voter list preparation, and the processes we follow leave no room for manipulation.”
Kumar also addressed claims of discrepancies in voter turnout reports, explaining that late reports from polling parties can cause perceived mismatches. “It is impossible to alter voter turnout data. Form 17C ensures that every vote is accounted for before counting,” he said.
EVM Tampering Claims Baseless
The CEC reiterated the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), citing court rulings that have consistently upheld their credibility. “There is no evidence of unreliability or tampering in EVMs. High courts and the Supreme Court have ruled 42 times that these allegations are baseless,” he noted.
Kumar further assured that over 67,000 VVPAT audits since 2019 have shown no discrepancies in vote counts, translating to over 4.5 crore VVPAT slips verified without a single mismatch. “EVMs are foolproof devices. Allegations of tampering are attempts to derail the electoral process,” he added.
CCTV Footage Access Restricted for Privacy
On the recent amendment restricting public access to polling booth CCTV footage, Kumar defended the decision as necessary to safeguard voter privacy and prevent misuse of data. “We have evidence that such footage can be exploited using AI and machine learning to create false narratives. This decision is aimed at protecting the integrity of elections,” he explained.
The amendment, enacted on the EC’s recommendation, limits public inspection of certain electronic documents, including polling CCTV footage, to prevent potential abuse.
Delhi Elections Dates Announced
The Delhi assembly elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8.
This announcement follows opposition parties, including AAP and Congress, raising concerns over alleged voter roll irregularities. AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal recently accused the BJP of tampering with voter lists, while Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a return to ballot papers during previous state elections.
