The Election Commission of India has admitted that the CCTV of a strongroom in Bhopal, where the EVMs were kept, were not functioning for over an hour due after a power cut in the area.
The Congress party had raised concerns over EVM-malfunctioning in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Following the accusation, EC released a statement where they admitted the strongroom in Bhopal faced a blackout on Friday.
“A report obtained from the Bhopal Collector states that CCTV cameras and an LED display installed outside the strongroom did not function from 8.19 am to 9.35 am on 30.11.2018 due to failure of electricity supply. Because of this, recording could not be done during the given time period. An additional LED screen, an inverter and a generator have been installed in order to ensure continuous electricity supply,” the statement issued by the poll body read.
Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers had been patrolling the strongroom since Friday. A Congress delegation also met EC to raise its concerns over the security of EVMs across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Ec also informed that action has been taken against an official who allegedly delayed the handover of EVMs in Sagar. “The responsible Nayab Tehsildar Sri Rajesh Mehra has been suspended for the delayed submission of machines,” the statement said.
The state of Madhya Pradesh went to polls on November 28. The counting of votes will take place on December 11, 2018.