Pune: 11 Candidates Seek Verification of EVM Microcontrollers After Maharashtra Election 2024 Results
Pune, 1st December 2024: Eleven candidates from the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections, including Yugendra Pawar, the NCP (SP) candidate from Baramati, have filed applications with the district administration for verification of the microcontrollers in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in their constituencies.
Other prominent candidates who have sought this verification include Prashant Jagtap, NCP (SP) candidate from Hadapsar, and Ramesh Bagwe, Congress candidate from Pune Cantonment.
The applications were filed within the mandatory seven-day window after the announcement of results, which concluded on Friday. Collectively, the candidates have requested verification of the microcontrollers in 137 EVMs across the district and have paid a total of Rs 66.64 lakh for the process.
According to guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, candidates who finish in second or third place in an election can request verification of microchips in up to 5% of EVMs per assembly constituency. This requires submitting a written application and bearing the associated costs.
District election officials confirmed that the state chief electoral office has been informed about the applications. “The verification process will include a mock poll conducted in the presence of the candidates, engineers from the EVM manufacturing firms, and election officials. This procedure will follow the directions issued by the High Court and the chief electoral office,” an election official explained.
Among the applicants, Prashant Jagtap from Hadapsar has requested the highest number of verifications, seeking re-evaluation of 27 EVMs and paying over Rs 12 lakh. He is followed by Rahul Kalate from Chinchwad, who applied for verification of 25 EVMs at a cost of Rs 11 lakh. Sanjay Jagtap, Congress candidate from another constituency, requested verification of 21 EVMs, paying Rs 9.9 lakh. Yugendra Pawar, who contested from Baramati, applied to verify 19 EVMs, paying Rs 8.96 lakh.
Jagtap expressed concerns about discrepancies in voter behavior. “Of the 532 booths in my constituency, I applied for verification of 5%, which covers 27 EVMs. In some areas where voter sentiment was clearly in my favor, the results showed all votes going to the winning candidate. This raises questions that need to be addressed,” he said.
The verification process will aim to uphold transparency and address the concerns raised by candidates regarding the election results.
