Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018: Congress workers guard EVM stores

Congress workers in several Chhattisgarh constituencies are guarding electronic voting machine (EVM) storerooms even as the administration has sealed their windows and doors by constructing brick walls.

Updated on: Nov 24, 2018, 24:07:12 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Congress workers in several Chhattisgarh constituencies are guarding electronic voting machine (EVM) storerooms even as the administration has sealed their windows and doors by constructing brick walls.

Congress leader Vikas Updhaya with other party members guarding EVMs in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Friday. (HT file photo)

Chhattisgarh was the first among five states to go to the polls in two phases, November 12 and November 20. Counting of votes is due on December 11. “It is a long waiting period and we don’t want to take any chances,” said Pras Nath Rajwade, a Congress candidate from Bhatgaon constituency of Surajpur district, who pitched a tent outside a storeroom on Thursday for round-the-clock vigil. “There is no CCTV outside the building, so we have decided to post our workers there... “

Two other Congress candidates in the district have followed suit, claiming there is a possibility of EVM-tampering. “On Friday, we will have all district units keeping 24-hour surveillance on EVM machine storerooms...” said Congress spokesperson and state general secretary, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

Also read | Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018: EVM video shared on social media fake, says state’s chief poll officer

Bharatiya Janata Party spoke- sperson Sachidanand Upasane said: “The Congress has tampered with ballots and EVMs when they were in power, so they are suspicious now. We believe in the people’s mandate.”

Surajpur collector KC Devasenapathi said there was nothing wrong in a candidate or his workers camping outside the strong room. “As per Election Commission directions, any candidate can camp outside the strong room with permission from the collector,” he said.

On Wednesday, officials in Bemetara have got a brick wall built to seal the main door of an EVM storeroom after a large number of people were coming there to see the EVMs, a local district official said. In Balod district, officials went a step ahead by sealing all doors and windows of a storeroom in a college building with brick walls. Officials said the EVM storerooms are fully sealed. The paramilitary forces are the first ring of security and the state police are the outer ring. “District collectors monitor the security through CCTV installed in the buildings,” said chief electoral officer Subrat Sahoo.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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