GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has requested the chief electoral officer of the state to institute an independent inquiry into the “suspicious storage of unused electronic voting machines,” purportedly sent from different districts, near the strong room at Amingaon, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kamrup (rural) district administration.
In an email to the Assam CEO, APCC general secretary Diganta Chaudhury has sought the intervention of the poll authorities into the matter stating that party sources were informed regarding the “fishy storage of unused EVMs” brought in small trucks around 10.35 pm on Sunday.
“Local sources informed our party sources that several truck loads of such commodities were deposited at a private location near the office of the Kamrup (rural) deputy commissioner. It is a known practice that neither the Election Commission of India nor the government authorities related to elections, relies on storage of such sensitive items in a private premises devoid of security and other systems of checks and balances. In this case why was such an unfair practice adopted and under whose instructions?” the email to the CEO read.
The APCC further said that the usual practice of dispatching faulty/unused EVMs back from duty is only after the same was verified by representatives of all political parties as it is done when they are received and made ready for use before polls.
“It is confirmed from most of our contesting candidates that they are yet to undertake such an exercise. In the absence of the mandatory provisions who has allowed the movement of these EVM machines?” the party general secretary questioned.
The state Congress further alleged that despite several complaints to the ECI and CEO, “no action was taken to transfer the incumbent deputy commissioner, Kamrup (R) who is by birth a resident of Sualkuchi within the same district thereby flouting all rules laid down for the said purpose.”
“Moreover, the incumbent DC is known to be very close with MLA, Jalukbari and Cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the sole reason why he has not been transferred out of his home district. Authorities having prior information are keeping silent, why,” the APCC letter to the CEO, questioned.
“In view of the facts and circumstances, we request you to institute an independent inquiry into the entire matter and identify the lapses and fix responsibility on those who are found guilty of lapses in the discharge of their duties. We further request you to ensure that security and comfort of the existing strong room is not compromised,” it read.