MUMBAI: The Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North West constituency took a new twist with allegations that a relative of winning Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikal had a mobile phone at a vote-counting centre which was used to generate one-time passwords (OTPs) to unlock electronic voting machines (EVMs), a charge dismissed by election officials.
Media reports on OTPs and EVMs have garnered attention on social media platforms, leading to political debates and discussions on EVMs versus ballot papers.
However, the Vanraj police station has launched an investigation into allegations that a person connected to Waikal had smuggled a mobile phone inside the counting centre.
The FIR names Waikar’s relative and aide Mangesh Pandilkar and Dinesh Gurav, who ran Angkor poll portal.
In the elections, Waikal of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena defeated Amol Kirtikar of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) by a margin of 48 votes.
Candidates from Thackeray’s party have already filed a complaint with the Election Commission.
Vandana Suryavanshi, additional collector and electoral officer, Mumbai suburban, denied the accusations.
“Mobile phones do not have an OTP system to unlock EVMs. They are not programmable and they do not have wireless communication capabilities. This is a complete lie,” she told a hastily convened press conference.
Legal notices have also been sent to the media.
“…Gurav is in charge of data entry at the election office of Jogeshwari constituency. His mobile phone was found in the possession of an unauthorised person (Pandilkar) and action is being taken,” she said.
Suryavanshi clarified that data entry and counting processes are separate. “The OTP allows the ARO to open the Encore login system for data entry,” she said, adding that while candidates Waikar and Kirtikar did not demand a recount, validation of invalid postal votes was sought and done.
“Counting of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) is being done in physical form and not electronically as misrepresented and being spread,” she said, adding, “The tally sheets on all tables for ETPBS and EVM counting and postal ballot counting (including ETPBS) have been signed by all the counting officers after due diligence.”
She said security camera footage cannot be provided unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“EVMs have advanced technical features and strong administrative safeguards in place to eliminate any possibility of manipulation.
“Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of the candidate or his/her representative,” she said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “In areas where the Shiv Sena (UBT) won, there was no problem with EVMs, but in areas where they lost… it is just a smear campaign.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the Election Commission is “totally compromised”. Once a traitor, always a traitor! “The case of Shinde Gang candidate from North West Mumbai has become murkier as this ‘Gaddar’ candidate is indulging in betrayal of democracy. Surprisingly or unexpectedly, the Election Commission, which is totally compromised, has refused to share the CCTV footage of the vote counting centre. Perhaps they are trying to avoid a Chandigarh-like situation again. The BJP and Shinde Gang have always said they want to end our democracy and change the Constitution. This latest cheating is part of their relentless efforts to do so.”
Who is Amol Kirtikar?
Kirtikar is the son of two-term Congress leader Gajanan Kirtikar, who switched to Shinde’s team.
His father did not take part in the vote after Thackeray fielded Amol Kirtikar.
More than a month after Kirtikar’s name was announced, Waikal, a sitting state assembly member, joined Shinde’s party to contest against his former colleague Kirtikar.
The counting centre for northwest Mumbai has been set up at the NESCO Complex in Goregaon.
Published June 16, 2024 15:38 IST
