Lok Sabha Election Results 2019: Centre alerts states of possible violence on May 23
New Delhi : The Home Ministry on Wednesday sounded a nation-wide alert to states about possible violence in different parts of the country in relation to counting of votes.
The advisory from Centre came a day after former union minister Upendra Kushwaha threatened of bloodshed in Bihar if any attempt is made to steal “the peoples’ votes”.
“The Home ministry has asked states and union territories to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity and take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes,” a Home Ministry statement said.
The unusual advisory by the Centre comes in a backdrop of a sharp campaign by opposition parties against the Election Commission who they accuse of interpreting the law and rules in favour of the ruling alliance.
The opposition has been questioning the credibility of EVM machines for a long time. Fueling this concern over the last few days are a string of videos that show the electronic voting machines being transported from one place to another. Like the video from Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli where some unidentified men are seen unloading voting machines at a strong room a day after the election was held in the constituency.
EC officials rebutted the charge, insisting that the devices in the video were “reserved EVMs” (back-up machines). But the commission, when asked why these were being moved a day after polling when the protocol requires them to be taken to warehouses at the same time as the EVMs used in polls, went into silent mode.