EVMs to be verified in 8 Lok Sabha seats of 6 states!

BJP candidate from Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) Sujay Vikhe Patil has demanded verification of EVMs related to 40 polling stations. Vikhe Patil lost to Nilesh Lanke of NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction. According to data shared by the Election Commission, one candidate each from YSR Congress Party and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have also applied for verification.

According to the Commission, EVM verification has been sought for eight parliamentary seats in six states. It said the total number of polling stations for which verification has been sought is 92. Besides, YSRCP and BJD candidates from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha respectively have also applied for EVM verification after the declaration of assembly election results on June 4. The applications for verification of assembly election results include three assembly constituencies where verification of 26 polling stations has been sought. Assembly elections were held in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the standard operating procedure issued by the Election Commission on June 1, candidates coming second or third will have to pay Rs 47,200 for an EVM set. According to the relevant standard operating procedure (SOP), EVM manufacturing companies - Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) - have fixed an amount of Rs 40,000 (plus 18 per cent GST) for checking and verification of EVMs.

On 26th April, the Supreme Court had rejected the demand to restart the old system of voting through ballot papers, terming the suspicion of tampering in EVMs as baseless. While hearing the case, the apex court had said that if the candidate wants, he can demand a re-examination of the result within seven days of the declaration of the election result and in such a situation, the memory of the micro-controller will be checked by an engineer. Along with this, the court had also made it clear that the candidate will have to bear the cost of this investigation. The court had said that in case the election result is proved to be tampered with, the candidate will get all the expenses back.