MP Ajit Bhuyan asks parties, people to keep strict vigil on strong rooms

GUWAHATI: Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) president and Rajya Sabha member Ajit Kr Bhuyan today appealed to all the political parties as well as people to keep a strict vigil on the strong rooms across the state in view of rampant recovery EVMs in suspicious situations across the state.

Thanking the stakeholders in the Assam assembly elections that concluded yesterday, Bhuyan today said irregularities with EVM handling has risen alarmingly in this election.

“It’s quite unfortunate that the EVMs are not handled properly raising many a eyebrows. Be it in Cachar, Karimganj, Barpeta Road or in Gauhati West, rampant EVMs mishandling are reported. It is not certain whether these are deliberate or erroneously. Therefore, we would like to appeal to all political parties as well as people to keep a strict vigil on the strong rooms so that EVMs are safe there,” Bhuyan said.

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The Congress has also appealed to the election authorities to give access to CCTV surveillance system to the contesting candidates so that they could themselves keep an eye against possible EVM tempering.

The AGM is an ally of the Congress.

Although the Assam elections ended yesterday, counting will take place only on May 2 along with the four other states where polls are under way.

Bhuyan further alleged that the BJP government has curtailed the independence of institution like the Election Commission (EC).

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“Despite all limitations after the independence of the EC is curtailed by the BJP government, I would like to urge the EC to act independently and take steps to restore the rapidly declining faith of the people in the election system,” he said.

“We hope the EC will take necessary steps as regards the rampant recovery of EVMs in suspicious situations across the state,” he added.