EVM  
Kerala

EVMs showing extra vote for BJP during Kerala mock poll: ECI rejects charges

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT

New Delhi | The Election Commission of India on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that allegations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) showing one extra vote during a mock poll in Kerala's Kasaragod were false.

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), an independent vote verification system which enables an elector to see whether his vote was cast correctly.

'These news reports are false. We have verified the allegation from the district collector and it appears that they are false. We will submit a detailed report to the court,' senior deputy election commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas told a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

Vyas was present in the courtroom to apprise the bench about the functioning of EVMs.

Earlier during the day, the top court asked senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Election Commission, to look into the issue after advocate Prashant Bhushan flagged the anomaly.

Bhushan, who is appearing for petitioner NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms', told the court that there were reports about EVMs showing one extra vote during a mock poll exercise.

(With agency inputs)

13 dead, several injured in fireworks unit explosion ahead of Thrissur Pooram

Trump threatens to bomb Iran if no deal by Wednesday amid uncertainty over peace talks

China denies links to Iranian cargo ship seized by US in Gulf

Cong MP gives privilege notice against PM in LS for 'casting aspersions' on members

US starts tariff refunds; Indian exporters need to engage with buyers: GTRI