Agartala: Tripura CPI-M has virtually supported the move of the opposition Congress on the issue of using second generation upgraded version of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Assembly polls in Tripura.
With the security analysis report of Netindia (P) Ltd, Hyderabad and The University of Michigan, the Tripura Congress had demanded second generation EVM for fair election last month and CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar said, “We had raised the issue with election commission long back and still it is pending with the commission.”
Referring to the security report of the existing EVMs of 2010, leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath stated in spite of the machines’ simplicity and minimal software trusted computing base, they were vulnerable to serious attacks that can alter election results and violate the secrecy of the ballot.
“The researchers have demonstrated two attacks, implemented using custom hardware, which could be carried out by dishonest election insiders or other criminals with only brief physical access to the machines,” Mr Nath said.
“Since EVMs are engineered by human being and it was left with the state government custody for long time, there is every possibility of tempering the machine at the behest of ruling the party,” Mr Nath apprehended.
CPI-M state secretary scoffed at Congress’ demand for ‘foolproof EVMs for the upcoming Assembly poll. (UNI)