2018 panchayat poll EVMs found binned in Anand
Two machines were found in the Borsad area
In a startling revelation, two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the 2018 Gram Panchayat elections were found discarded in a garbage heap near the Bhobhafali vegetable market in Borsad, Anand. The incident highlighted significant negligence on the part of the election department.
The two EVM units were promptly recovered by the local administration. Following the discovery, the municipality, with police assistance, initiated operations to investigate the situation. The standard procedure mandates that EVMs be sealed and securely stored after elections, raising questions about how these machines ended up in the garbage.
These EVMs were reportedly used during the byelections for the Amiad Gram Panchayat in Borsad taluka. The discovery sparked concern and criticism towards the Election Department, and provincial officers, police, and municipal officials have mobilised under the collector’s orders to address the issue.
An immediate search for additional election-related materials has been launched in the area. The municipality, in collaboration with the police, is working diligently to uncover the source and journey of the discarded EVMs. The incident raised significant questions among the public about whether their disposal was an act of deliberate negligence.
The police have commenced a thorough investigation into the matter to determine how the EVMs ended up in the garbage and whether there was any malicious intent involved. This alarming incident has not only shaken public confidence but also posed critical questions about the integrity and management of election processes in the region.