A post is being shared widely on social media with a claim that a vehicle with EVMs was caught in Varanasi. It is also being claimed that the administration intended to change the polled EVMs. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: A vehicle with polled EVMs was caught in Varanasi.
Fact: The ‘Training/Awareness EVM’ sticker can be seen on the EVMs caught in Varanasi. Also, the CEO Office (Uttar Pradesh) and Varanasi DM have given a clarification saying that the EVMs being taken in the vehicle were for training purposes. However, multiple people have questioned why no information was given to the candidates regarding the movement of EVMs as per the guidelines and why such training was scheduled just 36 hours before the counting.
On looking at other longer-duration videos of the same incident, we found that the EVMs caught in the incident have the sticker as ‘Training/Awareness EVM’. In the ‘Manual on Electronic Voting Machine And VVPAT’ (2019) document, under the subhead – ‘Taking Out EVMs And VVPATs For Training and Awareness Purpose’, it can be read that – “A sticker of Yellow colour mentioning “Training/Awareness” shall be affixed on such EVMs and VVPATs.”
The CEO Office (Uttar Pradesh) and Varanasi DM have given a clarification regarding the incident saying the EVMs being taken in the vehicle were for training purposes.
The Indian Express has reported Akhilesh Yadav saying – “If the EVMs were being transported for training, why weren’t the candidates informed? I have known this DM since he was posted in Muzaffarnagar. He is letting things happen. He will say what the party (BJP) wants him to say”. According to the ‘Manual on Electronic Voting Machine And VVPAT’ (2019) document, “(iii) Political Parties should necessarily be invited to witness this process from the opening of Warehouse and re-sealing of the warehouse after taking out the EVMs/VVPATs for training and awareness. The entire process is to be videographed. (iv) The list of such EVMs and VVPATs shall be given to the National and State Recognised Political Parties. This list shall also be shared with the candidates/their agents, as and when they are finalised. (v) Schedule of Awareness/Training shall be shared with Recognised National/State Political Parties.” More details regarding the handling of Training/Awareness EVMs can be seen in the document.
Also, the ‘NDTV’ has reported that Varanasi’s Commissioner Deepak Agarwal said – “If you talk about the protocol for the movement of EVMs, there was a lapse in the protocol, I accept that. But I can guarantee you, it is impossible to take away machines used in voting”. The video showing Varanasi Commissioner making those comments can be seen in a tweet made by the Samajwadi Party.
Some have also questioned why such training was scheduled just 36 hours before the counting. Those tweets can be seen here and here.
To sum it up, the EVMs caught in Varanasi are reportedly not polled EVMs. The officials said that they were being taken for training purposes.
Update (11 MARCH 2022):
Several social media users are also sharing a post claiming that the Election Commission has removed the District Magistrate and the Police Commissioner of Varanasi from their posts. However, there are no such reports. The ‘ANI’ has reported that the “ECI has suspended ADM Varanasi”. Also, the ‘ABP News’ has quoted Varanasi District Election Officer Kaushal Raj Sharma saying – “EVM in-charge, Additional District Magistrate Nalini Kant Singh was released from election work with immediate effect late night on March 8 for negligence in EVM transportation”. District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma can be seen talking to the media on the counting day about the arrangements made in Varanasi. So, the DM and the Police Commissioner of Varanasi were not removed from their posts.
