Himachal Pradesh: Polling party banned after EVMs discovered in a private car in Shimla; Congress claims tampering

In the Rampur neighbourhood of the Shimla district, a voting party was stopped for reportedly transporting the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in a private vehicle on Saturday.

68 seats in Himachal Pradesh were up for election to a new administration on Saturday. The district election commission officials immediately suspended the polling party members after Congress workers staged a protest and claimed the polling party was tampering with the EVMs.

“EVMs were being transported in a private car. We followed it and also informed the police and election commission authorities,” Congress MLA Nand Lal said while speaking to the media.

As per the norms, the EVMs must be transported in government cars to the counting centre following protocol when the voting procedure is complete.

The polling party following the assembly election for the 66-Rampur (SC) Assembly Constituency was held on Saturday, according to the officials.

Authorities from the district election commission claimed that they were informed, following the close of voting, that polling party No. 146, assigned to Duttnagar-49, was transporting EVM/VVPAT in a private vehicle with the registration HP-03D-2023.

Workers for the Congress party said that the BJP had ordered the transportation of the EVM and VVPAT machines with the goal of tampering with them.

As soon as the event was reported, the police administration went to the scene, sought to calm the demonstrators, and sent the EVM/VVPAT machines to the safe room.

In front of Congress and BJP workers outside the strong room, election commission officials closely examined the EVM and VVPAT machines and declared that the machines were properly sealed and that no evidence of tampering was discovered.

The polling party allegedly used a private vehicle in a rush to turn in the EVM and VVPAT machines and escape liability, according to officials.

“We found that Polling Party No. 146 was carrying the EVM/VVPAT machine in a private vehicle, which is a clear-cut violation of the instruction of ECI, and we have prima facie found that the party has not followed the due procedures and violated the ECI instruction,” returning officer (SDM) Surender Mohan said in an order.

Members of the voting party named Jagat Ram, PRO, Secondary Education, Goverdhan Singh, security personnel with the Department of Himachal Pradesh Police, Vipan, security personnel with the Department of Himachal Pradesh Police, GSSS Baur Nerwa, Inder Paul, PO, Secondary Education, GSSS Melandi Tehsil, Kumarsain, Rajesh Kumar, APRO, Secondary Education, GSSS Kelvi Tehsil, Theog, Pradeep Kumar, PO, Elementary Education.