Ashok Chavan: Install jammers at EVM strongrooms to curb tampering

Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Monday demanded installation of network jammers in and around strongrooms where EVMs used for polling are keptAddressing a press conference after meeting the chief electoral officer on the issue Chavan claimed electronic voting machines can be tampered using wireless networks like mobile phone towers wifi networks and hence such jammers were requiredThese jammers should be installed during the counting process as well We demand that such network jammers be installed immediately in all Lok Sabha constituencies in the state Chavan said Chavan informed that the Congress had requested the CEO to declare the result sheet of each round of counting only after it is duly prepared and signed by the returning officer and provided to all partiesThe next round of counting should be taken up only after the entire first round process is completed and any request for a recount should be considered roundwise he saidInstead of random selection of VVPATs for physical verification candidates should be given the liberty to select the EVM to be tested against VVPAT Voterverified paper audit trail slips Chavan demanded Our demand for testing 50 per cent of EVMs against VVPAT slip remains he added As per the present counting process of each EVM the votes of each candidate on serial number 1 are displayed first in ascending order We would like to request you CEO to reverse the counting order in each EVM starting from the last serial number candidate to the serial number 1 candidate in the descending or anticlockwise order Chavan said He said CEO Ashwini Kumar has told the delegation that these demands would be forwarded to the Chief Election CommissionerMeanwhile the NCP Monday expressed apprehension that candidates of the ruling party may opt for EVM tampering and demanded that the Election Commission bar candidates from entering EVM strongroomsThe candidates of the ruling parties can resort to EVM tampering using technology to change results Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil said adding that modern technologies have shown that changes can be brought in electronic equipment using remote systemsTherefore no acid test needs to be taken One must remain alert to ensure there is no scope for doubt left and that people do not lose faith in democracy Patil said in the letter to the state CEOCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates