LIVE Election results 2019: Congress president Rahul Gandhi is trailing in Amethi, a seat Congress has not lost in the last three decades, except in 1998. It will be a huge boost for the BJP if its candidate Smriti Irani registers a win against the Congress chief. Gandhi is also contesting from Kerala’s Wayanand, where he is leading.
The early trends of the Lok Sabha election result 2019 showed a clear majority for the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allies are set to cross 300 seats, as per the leads.
Most of the exit polls for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections have forecasted a clear majority for the BJP-led NDA. However, the opposition parties have rejected these exit poll results and said that May 23 numbers will be different. Really, the counting of votes, starting in the morning on May 23, will present the exact picture. With the announcement of results, all speculations about the general elections will come to an end.
The countdown has begun. The Election Commission of India is prepared completely for the counting of votes. All arrangements have been made for peaceful and smooth counting. The Election Commission has said that there are around 1,600 counting servers to monitor the counting of 22.3 lakh ballot units, 16.3 lakh control units, and 17.3 lakh VVPATs. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections were held for 542 seats from April 11 to May 19, including 48 parliamentary constituencies of Maharashtra. The party or alliance that gets the majority mark of 272 will be the winner. Amid EVM row and fear of violence on Thursday, the Union Home Ministry has warned all the states to remain alert. The Ministry has asked states to increase the security of counting centres and EVM strongrooms.
On EVM row, Mahila Pradesh Congress General Secretary Manisha Rote told Afternoon Voice, “The Election Commission of India has become a puppet in the hands of the Union Government. If Modi government is not afraid of losing in the general elections, they should count VVPAT slips first and match them with EVMs. If it is not done so, a wrong message will go among voters and the common man.” Manisha Rote expressed hope that the Congress-NCP will win over 24 seats out of 48 seats in Maharashtra.
The Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim Assemblies also went to polls during the above period. The Election Commission will also declare the results for at least 534 Assembly seats.
It is worth mentioning that 12 of 14 exit polls predicted that the NDA will get a full majority with seats ranging from 282 to 365. An aggregate of exit polls predicted the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 302 seats and the Congress and its allies 122. Many exit polls predicted that SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh is likely to trump the BJP.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee dismissed the exit poll results as gossip. She said, “The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip. I appeal to all opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together.” After the bitter and acrimonious election campaign, opposition leaders raised the issue of tampering of EVMs and conspiracy to manipulate votes or replace EVMs. They knocked the doors of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India but could not get any concrete assurance on matching of 50 to 100 per cent VVPAT slips with EVMs. The Opposition parties also raised concerns over the transportation of EVMs ahead of counting of votes. They urged the Election Commission to probe the issue.
BJP MLA and state party spokesman Atul Bhatkhalkar said,“All opposition leaders are frustrated. They don’t have any support of the common man. I advise them to visit a psychiatrist. PM Narendra Modi is a performer, he is hard working. Tomorrow evening Narendra Modi ji will again become the Prime Minister of India.”
On the other hand, NCP MP and advocate Majid Memon said, “It is not a fight between the ruling party and opposition. But it is a fight between the Election Commission of India and the common voters. There is no meaning of matching VVPAT slips with EVMs after the counting of votes. It is wrong to say that we are losing in the elections. So, we are raising this issue. Everybody should know that all opposition parties have been raising the issues of EVM tampering and matching of VVPAT slips with EVMS since the beginning of the electoral process.”
The BJP and its alliance welcomed the exit poll results. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have begun preparations for NDA-2 government. BJP hosted a dinner for NDA leaders. Thirty-six NDA allies were present on this occasion. Three NDA allies who were not present, have given their support in writing.
On the other hand, the opposition leaders have also not given up hopes. They are in contact with a group of political leaders who can swing numbers in case the BJP-led NDA falls short of a majority. According to sources, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has reached out to YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader and the Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Sharad Pawar has been in touch with Chandrababu Naidu, who has talks with leaders like Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Uttar Pradesh coalition partners Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Chandrababu Naidu also met Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and his father Deve Gowda.
The opposition leaders have left no stone unturned to prevent PM Narendra Modi from coming back to power. However, exit poll results were a big blow for them. Therefore, their last hope depends only on Thursday’s final results.
In the era of equality, most of the time, we falsely stand by the so-called Feminism. In today’s society, male emotion is extremely undermined because machismo doesn’t allow men to actually admit when you’ve been hurt. Men are supposed to be tough and they pretend to be strong in every adversity. In spite of following this informal conditioning between being emotionally available but not so available that someone mistakes you for being what you are. We ridicule a man who cries, we insult if he stands on his ground, we expect him to bring the sky to a woman’s feet, we expect him to be slogger, and all-time money fetcher but we don’t grant him basic emotional support just because he is masculine and we assume that the male needs no such things because they are strongest. Have we ever thought they too are human and at times they are much vulnerable than anyone? Believe it or not, men cry. With each day, they become increasingly torn between two sides; one side of them would love to have a family, wife, kids, etc. and another side of them is so hurt and angry that they’ll never let someone coming close to them ever again. From 498A to rape laws, all are against men and are in favour of female. The misuse of law begins here.
If one attacks a cow, he is lynched. If a woman is killed, especially if she is the wife, a million excuses are mouthed. If a woman says that she is subjected to cruelty, the society stands by her shaming a man with all sorts of public trials. Section 498A literally swept aside a fundamental right. True, the accused had to be produced before a first class magistrate where he, or she-relative, could plead for bail. However, smart women would ensure that the complaint was made on a Friday, assuring a weekend behind the bars for the so-called accused. That leaves enough time to reach a ‘settlement’, usually with the aid of a police-recommended interlocutor, who paints a grim picture for the accused if a settlement is not reached. As cases kept on increasing, and usually with the charge of ‘cruelty’ being without any visible physical evidence, the courts had misgivings. Where does this lead a man? Nothing but a nightmare, he spends all that he earned, sometimes he land up giving the only shelter he has for himself, and most of the time even he loses the custody of his beloved children whom he might have loved more than the mother, and even in some cases, where children are more comfortable with father but denied custody. Shattered marriage, cruel circumstances, and leading life alone with so many challenges ahead lead a man to commit suicide. Remember, men too get hurt, they break and crack just as often as women do; however, they aren’t allowed to show it. In some cases, you might see a man who’s been hurt or taken for granted and never has an outlet to express any of those emotions, he takes help of drugs, drinks or even more but we still don’t want to be kind, the society tags him with various adjectives. In such circumstances, we say that he has money to drink-drug himself, so he can pay for his wife too. The extortion goes to such an extent that the man stops living his life. We forget the fact, that they need their loved ones, particularly their children or friends, whatever the circumstances are. It is not because they are being extra or anything but because they can’t stand to watch the latter suffer. Often we become more caring than expected without realising that women are stronger these days. Of course, we do it to shower and wrap our loved ones with warmth and care to pick them up from whatever they are suffering in. This is, without a doubt, the backbone of maintaining a good relationship. However, all these take a turn when they do not receive something in return. That is when the pain starts to kick in and he gets hurt, begins to regret and take back everything he has done. Yes, people may argue that guys should do anything and everything without expecting anything in return but the question is, For How Long?
No matter what they will at a point feel depressed for doing something but not getting anything in return even after a very long time. It’s in human nature and it’s normal for them to feel that way. Men do not ask for anything extravagant or fancy in return from his wife or the lady he loves. All they ask for is the slightest of respect, loyalty, and care, but don’t get me wrong; caring as in not overly caring, just the slightest. When that does not happen, that is when the backbone starts to break because the relationship becomes one-sided and this one-sided story ends with one side judgment.
According to WHO data, the age-standardised suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women (6th highest in the world) and 25.8 for men (ranking 22nd). Men commit suicide at a higher rate across the world, but India has not been able to lower the suicide rate among men. India now accounts for over a fourth of male suicides, a significant increase in its global share from 1990. The suicide rates for men were much higher than the global averages. Who is at higher risk of suicide? The latest health statistics paint a grim picture of India’s mental health revealing that one person commits suicide every four minutes, maximum mental health and depression cases registered are of male patients. The National Health Profile 2018 raises alarm over the increasing numbers of suicide deaths – a whopping 1,33,623 in a year. This translates into 366 suicide deaths every day and 15 an hour. The data also show the increasing vulnerability of Indian men.
Nearly 70 per cent of all suicide deaths in India involves males. Of the 1,33,623 people who killed themselves, 68.49 per cent (91,528) were men as against 42,088 women. The number of suicides by men has risen from 66,032 in 2000 and 80,544 in 2008 to 91,528 now. The number of male deaths from suicides is nearly double than that of females. According to the latest data, the highest suicide burden is in Maharashtra (16,970 deaths), followed by Tamil Nadu (15,777) and Bengal (14,602). Health data also reveal that suicides are the highest in the productive age group of 30 to 45. Vulnerable men of India too need attention, during abuse from his spouse. High Expectations from him to give a luxury life to his family, the threat of committing Suicide from a spouse, blackmail and hazard of misusing Laws against him — greed for Money from his so-called wife or woman in relation.
There is an urgent need of setting up of a National Commission for Men in line with the National Commission for Women to register complaints filed by men and take necessary action against women who misuse laws or harass husbands or male partners. There should be a dedicated 24/7 helpline for men in distress at the Police Commissioner’s office in every city. More than a Commission, what men need is a humble approach of society, where they should believe the fact that “men to get hurt and they too are human”.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Prior to the counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday stated that “political funeral” of anti-BJP parties will be witnessed on May 23. Sharma claimed that month of May will turn out to be sad month for SP, BSP and Congress which have become weak.
“May 23 will witness the political funeral (Rajnitik Antim-Sanskar) of anti-BJP alliance of SP, BSP, RLD and Congress. These parties will level allegations and counter allegations against each other,” Sharma told agencies.
He took potshots at the ‘Gathbandhan’ and said, “With the mercury rising every day the temperature of Gathbandhan is also rising as they can easily see defeat approaching. It is for this very reason that they are making preposterous comments.”
Sharma attacked the Congress party and said, “Congress has itself accepted as a vote-splitting party. Its leaders have a record of travelling abroad. For them election campaigning is like a picnic.”
We all know that cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only with respect to economic growth but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. Culture shapes who you are. It forms your identity and moulds your behaviour. Culture is shared beliefs, language, beliefs, norms, values, behaviours, and objects passed down through generations. Cultural diversity” is the joint of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole. It is presented as the contrast of cultural uniformity. The term diversity relates to the variety and interaction of ideas, features or elements different from each other in a particular subject, situation or environment. Today to bridge the gap between cultures is very necessary for peace, stability, and development. Therefore, May 21 was celebrated as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development which provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. There are several international organisations that work towards protecting helpless societies and cultures. Looking at today’s conflicts, political uncertainties, and support for nationalism, it is important to be reminded of the benefits that diversity brings to development. Culturally diverse is frequently used as an alternative term to multiculturalism. Learning about other cultures begins with having a level of understanding about other cultural groups to foster cooperation and collaboration. UNESCO has an interreligious dialogue programme, which aims to promote dialogue among different religions, spiritual and humanistic traditions in a world where conflicts are increasingly associated with religious belonging. Today mutual understanding and respect and the equal dignity of all cultures is the essential prerequisite for constructing social cohesion, reconciliation among peoples and peace among nations.
The day was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism. According to UN, this is captured in the seven culture conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of cultural diversity — an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. Celebrating cultural diversity allows us to see how culture is a driving force of development, with respect to economic growth and as a fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. It is increasingly becoming necessary for today’s workplaces to be culturally diverse. Culture is a mirror you can use to evaluate the things that surround you. You base the evaluation of what is abnormal or normal and improper or proper through culture. Our country presents endless varieties of physical features and cultural patterns. It is the land of many languages and it is only in India people professes all the major religions of the world. In short, India is “the epitome of the world”. In short, our country is a museum of cults and customs, creeds and cultures, faiths and tongues, racial types and social systems. The property of togetherness among people of various cultures and traditions has made India, a unique country. People here live peacefully by following their own culture and traditions. Cultural diversity helps foster respect and recognition of the ways other people do things and react to things that may be very different from what you are used to. We must understand and acknowledge that cultural diversity means that each person is unique. Religious tolerance is what we need as a continent to be able to live in harmony and peace.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
My sister may be a transgender and I don’t know how to feel about it. So, while growing up, I and my sister were the closest two kids could be. We both have grown up together playing, fighting, sharing, caring, and most importantly staying in one room and sleeping in one bed. Things stayed like this until we started to grow up, I grew up and so did she. Now, all I want is my sister to be happy but I don’t know if I can handle the kind of changes coming. She already changed her name to a more gender neutral one which is big for me because this new name allows her to be happy but her old name is what I can only see her as because I’ve been the closest with her for longer than just about anybody. And through sharing a last name, we share a guidance counselor at school and I already know that she wants to be referred to as he. I don’t know what social and family stigma is coming our way and how I should tell this to my parents.
Shobhika Sarkar, Orissa
Dr. Patker’s answer:
Dear Shobhika, Life is about choices and we all have the right to choose the way we want to live. I totally understand how you feel with a sudden change in your life. I also understand that you are worried about your sister but it’s best to know the reality and not run away from it. Considering your relationship with your sister, she will need your love and support irrespective of how the world reacts to her. Have a word with her. Strike a good conversation and try to know her side first before talking to your parents or anybody else. It’s important to know what she thinks and plans about her life. With some insight from her, you will be to deal with the situation better. Calm down and be patient!
Questions
I have built my emotive partitions around me so high that I don’t feel easy talking to anybody else except myself, all the meanwhile being that friend who’s there for everyone else they also distanced from me due to my snobbish nature. I think I am getting lost day by day; I gathered the courage to write to you. What should I do? I tried a thousand times to go out and mingle but I think that’s not what I really want. Sorry, don’t ask my name and contact.
Xyz, Maharashtra
Dr. Patker’s answer:
Dear Xyz,
The mind plays games and we fall for them. The discomfort of being around people is a very common problem and you need not get scared of it. The reason behind this feel could be a deep hurt memory or trust issues due to experiences. In any case, we need to understand that we are social animals. Introspection and self-awareness is definitely good but human interaction is also a need: You can’t neglect it. You can very well do it. As therapy, start having short conversations with unknown people. Later, graduate to starting conversations with friends. People find it tough to interact with loners. You create scope to continue conversations without cutting them. Practice makes you perfect even when it comes to conversations.
Questions:
Hi,
I am very restless as I have done a crime by cheating on my wife; I hired sex very conveniently and enjoyed my life. My wife expects me not to do so ever. However, still I came and convinced her about my fault, but now she is dating someone to answer me. I have two beautiful daughters, I don’t want a divorce. Please help.
Preetesh, Mumbai
Dr. Patker’s answer:
Dear Preetesh,
I do not approve what you have done at all but the fact that you regret and have confessed makes it very clear that you value your marriage and want to make things work. Mistakes should not happen, but they happen. Speak to your wife honestly and be absolutely transparent with her. Dating someone else to teach you a lesson is not matured, and I doubt if she would do. She could have said it in a rage and she has the right to be angry. Work around your relationship by talking and setting relationship rules. If you both are not comfortable doing so, seek marriage counseling. Relationships are about saving, not breaking.
Questions:
My husband’s addictions will keep us from getting ahead with our debt forever. I hate that our financial planner included his addictions into our budget.
Hemlata
Dr. Patker’s answer:
Dear Hemlata,
Addictions are life killers. Please insist your husband take professional help on giving off his addiction. It is important that you together have financial goals and use money wisely. If you feel that there is some problem with the financial planning, do raise the issue. Whether you earn or not, as a life partner, you have the right to know how your life will be going forward financially and practically. Since you are also liable for his debts because you are his wife, be in charge of situations. Prevention is better than cure.
Questions:
My husband asked me the other day if I would like to have a second baby. Of course, I would, I wouldn’t want anything more! I told him no because we are in so much debt that I know a second child would double my stress and anxiety. My car is on loan, the house is on loan, the phone is on loan, everything is on loan. But my age would not be what it is now till I repay everything.
Zeenat
Dr. Patker’s answer:
Dear Zeenat,
Babies add so much life to the relationships and we all love to have a complete family. However, it is important to understand our emotional and financial capacity before we bring life to this world. I understand there is a biological clock that will affect you and you need to plan within the parameter of being young. However, I still suggest, there is no point in stretching yourself endlessly to have a baby and then live a life full of anxiety and struggle to meet ends.
(Want to confess and get assistance? Mail us at confessions@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Voter turnout in Delhi for electing seven members of new Lok Sabha is a cause of worry and needs to be analyzed. Polling-day should preferably be in mid-week working-day so that people may remain in the city for voting.
The lower turn-out of voters can also be a sign of victory of ruling BJP because voters against the ruling party might have missed voting due to split in opposition with no alliance between opposing main parties Congress and Aam Aadmi Party AAP.
Voters being fed up with professional politicians contesting elections showing faces to the public only during election-festival can be yet other reason. The right step would be to convert NOTA (None-Of-The-Above) into Right-To-Reject with riders where the fresh election may be held in case NOTA winning in a constituency with rest others losing the right to contest any election in life. However, this option can be disabled from EVMs in by-elections caused due to NOTA-winning to prevent the chain of elections with NOTA winning even in by-elections. Then parties coming on the third or later positions may themselves opt out paving way for direct elections. The system will make political parties giving the best candidates who may even win votes of supporters of rival parties.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Exit polls deter opposition
The exit poll results have deterred the entire opposition so much that all the ‘chair’ greedy politicians like Chandrababu Naidu and Rahul Gandhi are running from pillar to post to ensure the ‘defeat’ of the Modi government at any cost. TDP, Congress, NCP, RJD, TMC, Left or no other political party’s ‘Neta’ is interested in serving the nation but they all want political power to earn ‘monetary power’ in the next five years. They all must be scared of the Modi Sarkar, perhaps to save and protect their trillions of rupees and the US dollars stashed by them in few banks in India as well as abroad.
Hansraj Bhat
Mumbai looking like a war-torn city
Your editorial ‘BMC needs to be battle ready this monsoon’ made for interesting reading. BMC in all probability will get themselves exposed in the first showers to hit the city. The monsoon is just a few days away but the whole city is dug up for one reason or the other with no sign of completion of work. The stormwater project to widen gutters were undertaken very late and don’t think it would help prevent flooding. The metro work is in a mess and Mumbaikars should prepare themselves for a long haul of troubles this year.
The state government should work in tandem with BMC and should even hire top corporate infrastructure companies to complete work started by the civic body which is progressing at a snail’s pace. The parliamentary elections too are responsible for slow work as everybody’s focus were on polls which are the reason why Mumbai is today looking like a war-torn city. Hope better sense prevails and all departments work overtime to ease city of its monsoon-related issues!
S.N. Kabra
Why Congress did not change the system of appointing ECs?
It refers to Congress and other opposition parties strongly criticizing present Chief Election Commissioner for the allegedly biased role in favour of ruling BJP during Lok Sabha. Leave apart merit in allegations if any, the big question is why Congress in its long regime did not change the system of appointing Election Commissioners. Congress was also alleged by the then opposition for appointing certain individuals of its favour as Election Commissioners.
However with several other posts like Central Vigilance Commissioners and Central Information Commissioners having a system of appointments by a collegium also consisting opposition-leader, appointment of Election Commissioners requiring even more political neutrality must be selected by a collegium preferably consisting of non-political persons like Chief Justice of India, Central Vigilance Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on a panel of names forwarded by the Union Cabinet Secretary. Any collegium consisting of two from political rulers and one from opposition party can select a person of choice of government by the majority.
Madhu Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday made history by successfully launching earth observation satellite RISAT-2B. Radar Imaging Satellite-2B (RISAT-2B ) would enhance the country’s surveillance capabilities.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C46) blasted off at 5.30 am from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, carrying the 615 kg satellite. The RISAT-2B is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar that can take pictures of the earth during day and night, and also under cloudy conditions. It was released into the orbit around 15 minutes after the lift-off. It would replace the RISAT-2, which was launched in 2009.
ISRO sources told PTI, “The mission’s life is of five years. The satellite would also be used for military surveillance.” ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said, “”This is a very, very important mission for India. It is an excellent satellite with hi-fi earth observation (capabilities).”
It is remarkable that the RISAT-2B (Radar Imaging Satellite-2B) is meant for application in fields such as surveillance, agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. The RISAT-2 has been actively used by India to monitor activities in camps across the border in Pakistan to thwart infiltration bids by terrorists.
The PSLV-C46 was the 14th flight of the PSLV in its core-alone configuration sans the use of the solid strap-on motors. It was the 72nd launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota and also marked the 36th launch from the first launch pad. It was the third launch of the PSLV in 2019.
Since last few days several videos of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail Machines) being mishandled in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab have surfaced on social networking sites. On Monday, Congress and RJD activists had caught a person driving a truck carrying EVMs and trying to enter a strong room in Bihar. They stopped the vehicle and didn’t allow the person to enter the strong room. RJD activists posted the photo of the truck carrying EVMs on twitter. Indian voters have performed their duty of exercising their franchise. However, if EVM mishandling incidents occur then voters will lose faith in democracy. How are such incidents occurring when security is deployed to guard strong rooms where EVMs are kept?
When Afternoon Voice spoke to BSP leader Suresh Sakhare he said, “Our candidate Ansari has said that two trucks carrying EVM machines have been seized. Despite Election Commission being very strict and CRPF personnel being deployed, where did the EVMs come from? This means some misappropriation is going on. It’s BJP’s ploy to manipulate the exit poll verdict in its favour. Anarchy is prevailing in the country and there is no democracy.”
A BSP worker said that they had seized two vehicles that lacked number plates carrying EVMs from the strong room in Uttar Pradesh. Later local residents and party workers halted the vehicles and carried out protest. After learning about media’s entry into the area the EVMs were once again sent to strong rooms.
Congress spokesperson Hemlata Patil said, “There have been several complaints against electronic voting machines in the country. Some machines are missing while some others are being found at Tahsildar’s residence. A thorough investigation must be carried out by the Election Commission. The election must be held in a free and fair manner. The Election Commission must remain vigilant to stop the misuse of EVMs and action must be taken against the accused.”
Several videos of EVMs being moved from one unauthorized store room to others have surfaced on Twitter. Some of the machines were stored at local shops others were stacked in boot of private vehicles. In another video, a group of men were seen unloading several EVMs and VVPAT machines and stacking them up inside a shop. The former President Pranab Mukherjee expressed his concern pertaining to the tampering of EVMs. In a statement issued by him on twitter, Mukherjee said, “Safety and security of EVMs which are in the custody of ECI is the responsibility of the Commission. There can be no room for speculations that challenge the very basis of our democracy. People’s mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt.”
BJP spokesperson Avdhut Wagh said, “Those who are worried about EVM, they should immediately file a complaint with the nearest police station. They should also report to the Election Commission for taking the necessary action against the accused. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission and District Magistrate who are supposed to depute necessary arrangements like CRPF, police. We have been using EVMs for long. There is not a single incident being reported about EVMs being stolen. Indian people and democracy are very strong and they will give answers to such questions on May 23 when results will be declared.”
There are also reports of EVMs being replaced in Chanduali and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. Chandauli district Congress committee president Devendra Pratap Singh stated that around 150 EVMs were being transported and brought to the strong room. Singh followed the vehicle and found those EVMs which were used during voting. Subsequently, the District Magistrate intervened and he transported those EVMs to District Magistrate office.
Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab Shiv Sena said, “An investigation must be carried out so that people will come to know about the truth.”
According to Election Commission guidelines for storage and transportation of EVMs (polled and unpolled), “all polled and reserve EVMs after the voting shall be under cover of armed police all the times. Reserve EVMs should also be returned at the same time when the polled EVMs are returned at the receipt centre.”
The guidelines also say that “It must be ensured that all reserved EVMs are deposited in the strong room meant for reserve EVMs at the same time when the polled EVMs are deposited in the strong room meant for polled EVMs.”
Earlier SP-BSP alliance candidate Aftab Aalam has alleged of EVM mishandling in Dumariyaganj. He said that EVMs were replaced from the strong room. He said, “When the strong room was sealed after polls then how did the administration was replacing them? SP and BSP candidates had protested against this incident on May 14.”
In another incident, a vehicle carrying EVM was spotted near a strong room in Fatehabad in Haryana. After watching the vehicle the Congress party workers organised protests. They had got suspicious about the truck and started following it. They tried to gather more information about the truck from security guards posted there. As tension increased police and District Election Officer intervened to calm down the situation. In another video, a man was seen alleging that EVMs were brought in at a poll station in Jhansi without informing the candidates. An Aam Aadmi Party worker shared a video and alleged that two EVMs and a VVPAT machine was found lying in a car in Punjab. She also levelled allegations against BJP. All these incidents are happening at a time when the opposition has been alleging about EVMs being tampered with. They are demanding that VVPAT slips must be tallied with EVM figures in an entire assembly constituency in case a discrepancy is found in any polling booth.
Amid row of EVM scandals, BJP leaders are hell bent on saying that the machines cannot be hacked. But way back when the same party was in opposition, some BJP leaders went on writing volumes on how EVM is a threat to democracy. Book authored by Subramanian Swamy, a BJP MP titled “Electronic Voting Machines: Unconstitutional and Tamperable” is still available online. Another BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao, who thought democracy is in danger with EVM authored “Democracy At Risk! Can We Trust Our Electronic Voting Machines? Hypocrisy is at its best. EVM can be hacked or not is always a debatable subject, but the thing worth noticing is that when BJP was in opposition they were too much against EVM and now the same leaders are refuting the claims of Congress stating that the EVM is the safest way of voting. Now they don’t want to talk about, are Indian Elections Free and Fair in the Age of EVMs? EVMs have already been banned in many countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and Italy, and the list is getting longer. Thus, there is a growing lack of confidence in EVMs the world over. Why should India persist with a failed system that has been abandoned worldwide? The risk of wholesale rigging inherent in EVMs, howsoever small, cannot be accepted in a democracy where the stakes in winning elections are so high. These books by BJP leaders were once eye-openers but now they have been hidden from showcase because they have no place to hide their face.
Though, the fact is that with time the modifications are also done with the EVMs. Principally, VVPAT was added as a feature to the EVMs. Existing EVMs were subject to some shortcoming. Voters were unable to confirm if their vote has been cast correctly. With VVPATs, once the vote has been cast, a small paper trail is printed that shows to which party did your vote go to. The printed-papers are available only for 5 seconds and then drops in a box, which is managed by Election Commission. This method was introduced to further minimize the shortcomings in the EVMs and make them near foolproof. Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a fetterless verification system which provides recompose to the voters using a ballot less voting system which is implanted in voting machines designed to detect any possible election fraud or malfunction. For the very first time in Uttar Pradesh, a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) has been introduced by the Election Commission, which was used in polling booths for the recent assembly polls. In conventional EVM there is no record of the name of candidate or party is stored. EVMs only count number of times a button is pressed. Sometimes some machines get malfunctioned so at the time of counting faulty machines are not counted and if the number of faulty machine crosses specific number, re-election is done.
Post elections there is always uproar, in our country were not very long ago electoral booths were captured and ballots stuffed as a regular feature. The EVMs helped but far more than that was one strong man called T N Seshan who made every politician tremble. He tightened the choke chain and turned things around. Thanks to him we had a strong EC, where everything was within rules.
EVMs helped speed up the process and secure it against rowdy shouters. It’s the human army and strict supervision that makes the elections free and fair.
The noise about “hacking” EVMs is only coming from an opposition party, before 2014 it was always BJP who questioned the reliability of these machines. When BJP came to power now the opposition is aggressive on attacking EVMs. However, I don’t think this will stop any of the parties from using hacking as an excuse to hide their electoral failures. They can make any claims without having to prove them. Social media has gone crazy after the telecast of recent exit polls by all TV news channels. They gave the utmost majority to BJP and UPA in comparison to that predicated as nowhere. So, this much is enough to create a ruckus. Thousands of video clips are shown claiming that the EVMs are stored in some placed, additional EVM’s are replaced by managed ones. People are given an impression that the BJP has almost manipulated votes towards their win.
There was also a rumour that EVMs can be hacked so that no matter which button you press the vote will go to the same candidate. The chance of above happening is the same as an elephant passing through the hole of the finger ring. On the day of commissioning and polling the political party can themselves cast their votes randomly and verify that the vote has actually gone to the candidate for which they have voted. Since the numbers of votes are already communicated to the political party, therefore, if extra votes were cast then it would reflect on the day of counting. After the polling, the Presiding Officer presses the CLOSE button. Once this button is pressed you cannot cast extra votes unless a CLEAR button is pressed. Guess what, this button is surrounded by two unique paper seal containing the signature of both PO and political agents. There is no way you can reach this button without breaking the seal. The machine also records the time of the last vote polled. Every Presiding Officer gives a diary (called Presiding Officer Diary) in which the end time of the poll is recorded. If someone tries casting extra votes then there would be a mismatch in the time of closing which can be easily identified on the day of counting. So if you manage to take away polled EVM in your house, it will be of no use! Moreover, with the introduction of VVPATs, there is a second level check. Political parties can randomly select a machine and ask us to verify all votes cast by counting slips inside VVPAT. This is the beauty of the election process in India. If one has to play foul then there are other ways and means but for that, one needs to have entire administration, manufacturers and resources under their feet…which is again highly impossible in the era of social media. So, chill and relax till 23rd.
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