SHILLONG, AUG 6: Questioning former deputy chief minister and UDP working president Bindo M Lanong as to why he took so long to filed a petition on the allegation that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were tampered in the last assembly elections, Meghalaya chief electoral officer P Naik said that nobody has been able to provide prove to support the allegations.
On Monday Lanong, who lost the last assembly election from East Shillong constuency, alleged that the electronic voting machines were hacked in around 15-17 constituencies during the last assembly elections.
Naik informed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has maintained that nobody has been able to come up with proves of tampering of EVMs. He said, “You cannot simply allege that there is discrepancy in the EVMs in a certain constituency without pinpointing the particular polling station.”
Naik challenged that anybody who felt that the EVMs were tampered can come and “demonstrate” to prove how the EVM were tampered or hacked. He said, “ They can choose any EVMs which are still kept in the strong room with full dat.,”
Naik suggested to that any political party can also approach the court and file an election petition if it felt that the last election was rigged.
Naik also questioned what took Lanong who a lawyer so long to file the election petition if he had any doubt on the election results. He said,“Everybody has the right to go to court.” He said anybody who has doubt, can file an election petition within 6 months after the elections.
The UDP had earlier submitted its complaint to the ECI on this regard even as it demanded reverting back to the old ballot system.
Naik, however, assured that the election department would look into the comments of the senior political leader seriously. He said, “We will ask for more details in this regard.”
On the demand for ballot system, Naik however refuse to give any comment and said it is for the ECI to decide.- By Our Reporter
