ECI dismisses viral EVM tampering videos as old, not related to ongoing general election

Mumbai: The chief electoral officer of Maharashtra on Saturday issued a statement clarifying that some old videos are being circulated through social media claiming tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the Lok Sabha elections in the state. He said that the poll process in Maharashtra was completed smoothly and peacefully.

S. Chockalingam, Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra said, "It is noticed that some old videos from other states are getting circulated through social media showing miscreants trying to vitiate the poll process and particularly tampering with EVM. It is clarified that such videos are not related to Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Maharashtra. The poll in the state is completed smoothly and peacefully."

The ECI clarification came a day after NCP founder Sharad Pawar alleged that several booth capturing incidents in the Beed Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on May 13. Mr. Pawar said that the videos of booth capturing and EVM tampering are available on the social media.

1121 candidates have been contesting election on 48 seats of Maharashtra. The voting in the state has taken place in five phases of Lok Sabha election. The voter turnout has slightly jumped from 60.71 percent to 61.33 percent in Maharashtra. The candidates are now keenly waiting for counting which will take place on June 04.

An official from Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office (CEO) said that some videos have been floating on social media in several parts of the state creating apprehensions in the minds of the people about the interference at the strong room, where the EVMs are kept. “We have also received some videos in the last couple of days. The videos are in different languages. Some alert citizens have sent the videos to us, asking to enquire about it. After verification, we have reached the conclusion that either the videos are previous elections or from the other states,” the official said.