New Delhi: Several cases of faulty EVMs were reported and allegations of their tampering emerged in Gujarat where voting took place in 89 seats for the first phase of Assembly elections. Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia caused a flutter by claiming that three polling booths in Porbandar were found to be connecting to external devices via Bluetooth, raising doubts about hacking. He alleged EVMs in booth number 145, 146 and 147 were hacked, a claim rejected by the Election Commission.
The complainant’s phone was detecting — when its bluetooth was activated — a device identified as ‘ECO 105’ at the polling booth, said an EC official. ‘ECO 105 was feared to be the EVM at the polling booth, giving rise to the fear of possible tampering through Bluetooth technology an inquiry showed a polling agent was carrying a mobile phone of Intex company, bearing model number ECO 105,” said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) B.B. Swain.
The BJP hit out at the Congress for alleging tampering of EVMs. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Congress is searching for an excuse even before the results are out, as it stares at a loss in the elections.” An EC official said that there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, the polling resumed after they were replaced at eight-nine booths.
