UP polls: Akhilesh claims EVM theft, poll panel says used for training
Hours after Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to ‘steal’ votes and claimed a truck carrying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was ‘intercepted’ in Varanasi, the Election Commission on Tuesday (March 8, 2022) clarified that the machines were for training officials on counting duty and were not used in elections.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh issued a statement late at night and 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),” the statement read.