ECI refutes Congress charge, says no EVMs imported from any country for Karnataka polls

BENGALURU: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday rejected the Congress’ charge that electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for the Karnataka Assembly elections were brought from South Africa and stressed that no EVMs were imported from any other country.

Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, had alleged that the EVMs used in the Karnataka Assembly election, which was held on May 10, were brought from South Africa. In response to the allegation, the ECI has said that the EVMs used were all new and added that the Congress not make baseless allegations.

On May 8, Surjewala had written to the ECI stating, “The concern arises from the fact that the Commission has deployed EVMs which were previously deployed for elections in South Africa. We have been informed of this by various sources including the fact all these EVMS have been received directly back from South Africa without going through the process of re-validation and re-verification by the appropriate software/mechanisms by the manufacturer i.e. Electronics Corporation of India (ECI) Ltd. as also certification by the ECI. This puts in serious doubt the entire validation process of the EVM itself”.

In a strongly worded reply to Surjewala, the ECI said it has never sent EVMs to South Africa for use in their elections and that it never imported EVMs from any country whatsoever. “As such, there is no question of any machine being used by ECI in Karnataka Legislative Assembly election which had or could have been used in South Africa elections or for that matter anywhere in the world. All EVMs to be used in Karnataka elections, 2023 are new EVMS from ECIL. This fact is in full knowledge of INC”, the commission said.

“… it has noted with concern that INC has chosen to rely on “sources” and even considered seeking a “clarification”, on 8th May, 2023, just 2 days before the poll. While the Commission read bona fides into this action, the Commission accounted for the sanctity of the 48-hour silence period and held back an immediate response.

“The factual basis of the information provided by the “various sources” with regard to South Africa being clearly non-existent, categorically empower INC, being the entity targeted by the false information, to publicly expose such mischievous “sources”. Further, you may ensure such rumour mongers are brought to justice, so that INC’s longstanding reputation of a responsible stakeholder of Indian electoral system is not dented”, the Election Commission of India noted and added that it expects to receive confirmation of the action taken by 5 pm on May 15.