Even as the Election Commission claimed that faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced in Surat and other areas during the first phase of polling in Gujarat on Saturday, the Congress alleged that some machines in a Muslim-dominated area of Porbandar were connected to external devices via Bluetooth.
Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia claimed that EVMs in three polling booths in Memanwada were found to be connecting to external devices via Bluetooth. He said, “When the Bluetooth of a mobile phone is turned on, a device named 'ECO 105' is shown as available.” He alleged that this shows that the machines can be tampered as the chips in the EVM appear to be programmable via Bluetooth.
The Election Commission said that based on the Congress leader's complaint, an inquiry had been initiated. However, EC officials denied Modhwadia's claims, noting that any device could be named as ECO.
"We received a complaint regarding the connectivity of EVM through Bluetooth. After discussing the matter with the Election Commission, we have sent the collector and an observer of the commission has been sent to the spot along with the senior-most engineer. An inquiry is being conducted in the presence of the complainant," Swain said.
The ruling BJP, however, said the complaint showed that the Congress was searching for an excuse as it would lose in the elections.
The EC announced that nearly 35% voters had cast their votes till 2pm; polls will close at 5pm.
