New Delhi: A controversy over EVMs has deepened amid the ongoing third phase of assembly elections in West Bengal. A case of getting a reserve EVM machine and VVPAT from the house of a TMC leader has come to light.
After the matter came to light, the Election Commission has suspended the sector officer Tapan Sarkar. It is alleged that he went to sleep with his EVM and VVPAT at his relative’s house in Uluberia in Howrah district of West Bengal. The relatives are also TMC leaders.
The Election Commission has said that it was a reserve EVM machine which has now been removed from the electoral process. Also, the Election Commission has said that strict action will be taken against whoever will be involved in it.
It was stated by the Election Commission, ‘Tapan Sarkar, a Sector Officer of Sector 17 in AC 177 Ulberia North of Howrah, had gone to his relative’s house with Reserve EVM. This is a violation of the directives of the Election Commission. For this, they have been suspended and strict action will be taken.
The Sector Police along with the Sector Officer has also been suspended. The Election Commission has said that the recovered EVM machines will no longer be used in the elections.
Earlier in Assam, even after the second phase of voting, there was a dispute on EVM on 1 April. At that time, there was a report of an EVM machine in the car of a BJP candidate in Karimganj, Assam.
