Lucknow/Varanasi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the ruling BJP of trying to steal votes and claimed a truck carrying EVMs was "intercepted" in Varanasi, but the Election Commission clarified that the machines were for training officials on counting duty and were not used in elections.
In a statement issued here late on Tuesday night, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of UP said that a "'rumour was spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections".
"According to the report sent by the District Election Officer (of Varanasi), it was found during the investigation that these EVMs were marked for training.
"To train the officials involved in counting duty, training has been organised for March 9 (Wednesday)," it said.
A delegation comprising senior SP leaders Naresh Uttam and Rajendra Chaudhary, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and Janwadi Party's (Socialist) Sanjay Chauhan submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission alleging the "stealing of EVMs in Varanasi".
Speaking to PTI, Chaudhary, who is the chief spokesperson of the SP said, "We have submitted a memorandum to the EC regarding missing EVMs, and two trucks fleeing with EVMs in Varanasi.
"We have demanded that the DM of Varanasi and Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi division be removed," he said.
At a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav alleged that senior government officials in the state capital are directing their subordinates in the districts to slow down the counting of votes and prolong the process till late night where the chances of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates winning the electoral contest are slim.
The seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls concluded on Monday. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10.
Yadav said the instructions are particularly about 47 seats that the BJP had won in the last state assembly polls with a margin of less than 5,000 votes.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also alleged that the BJP-led state government is "stealing" EVMs and a truck carrying the voting machines was caught in Varanasi, but the BJP hit back, claiming he was indulging in such gimmicks due to the SP's imminent defeat in the polls.
Yadav alleged, "Instructions are being sent to the district magistrates from the chief minister's residence by the principal secretary to the chief minister that wherever the BJP is losing the election, the counting should be delayed and it should be stretched till late nigh.
"Today, in Varanasi, where the EVMs were being taken, one truck (with the machines) was caught, while two other trucks fled. If the government is not indulging in stealing votes, then it should at least say why the administration has not made security arrangements (for the EVMs).
The force meant for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls has not left the state yet. What are the reasons that the EVMs were being transported without any security?" the SP chief asked.
He also said that EVMs are kept in strongrooms and without informing the respective candidates, the machines cannot be moved or shifted from one place to another.
"In Bareilly, three sealed boxes (with EVMs) were found in a vehicle of the municipal corporation carrying garbage (registration number UP25DT9166). Plain ballot papers and things used for sealing (EVMs) were also found. A similar incident was also reported from Sonbhadra. What justification will the government give?" Yadav asked.
He claimed that at the ground level, votes were cast against the BJP and that there is anger among the public.
The UP CEO office, however, said that all the EVMs used for voting are sealed inside the strongroom and secured in a three-tier security cordon of the central paramilitary forces.
These machines are completely isolated and secure and are continuously monitored by CCTVs throughout the day (24x7).
The District Election Officer of Varanasi has informed the representatives of various political parties regarding this, the statement said.
On Wednesday, a second training session for officials who will be engaged in the counting process will be held and these machines are used for "hands-on training" purposes, the statement said.
DM Varanasi also told reporters, "All the candidates have been called, and they can see (the arrangements) and satisfy themselves. Observers have also called, and cross-checking will be done in their presence."
Meanwhile, District Magistrate of Bareilly Shivakant Dwivedi said,
"Due to the fault on the part of the returning officer, election material was brought in a vehicle carrying garbage. The leaders, who were present there, got confused. The strongroom is safe, and it has been shown to all the leaders, and everybody is satisfied."
Mocking the exit polls, which gave a clear majority to the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh election, Akhilesh Yadav said, "I do not want to comment on the exit polls. The exit polls want to create a perception that the BJP is winning (the election), so that the stealing, which they are doing, is not known (to the public).
"Hence, I would say that if we have voted, we should also ensure that our votes are protected. If the votes are not counted, then where will democracy go?"
Replying to a question at the press conference, the SP chief, flanked by ally Om Prakash Rajbhar , said going to court is an option against the "stealing of votes" but before that, he would appeal to youngsters, farmers and journalists to protect their votes from being illegally taken away.
"The Uttar Pradesh election is the last battle for democracy and after this, the public will have to unleash a revolution. Only then will the transformation come. I would ask all the SP workers that till the counting is over, everyone has to keep a close watch. The party that has lost (the election) can only do this thing, which it is going to do," he said.
Appealing to the youth, Yadav said, "I will appeal to the youth that when the farmers sat on a protest for so long, the government relented. You (youth) should become the 'akhand prahari' (guard on constant duty) of democracy at least for three days, and save the EVMs and the elections. This is a very critical time for democracy."
Accusing the district magistrate of Varanasi of indulging in cheating, the SP chief said, "I know him very well."
However, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya trashed the charges levelled by Yadav and asked him to stop staging a drama before the counting of votes.
He said the EC makes proper arrangements for every candidate to keep a watch over the EVMs.
In a series of tweets in Hindi, Maurya said, "Instead of welcoming fair and peaceful elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav due to fear of defeat is preparing a press note, which will be released to the media after the defeat (in the polls). The senior leaders of the SP-alliance have lost the elections, and they should stop this gimmick before the counting of votes."
"The statement of 'kraanti' (revolution) by Akhilesh Yadav, who is a symbol of dynast ('pariwarvad'), is laughable. Only the BJP can save democracy from the so-called dynasts. Democracy has survived and will survive, SP and hooliganism will not survive," Maurya said in another tweet.
