Chandigarh: Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Dr. S Karuna Raju has made an appeal to all the political parties of the State to take part in First Level checking of the EVMs being conducted at all district headquarters.
Addressing the representatives of Congress, SAD, BSP, Marxist Party and NCP, in the office of Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, Dr. Raju gave detailed information about EVMs and how the EVMs functions. He explained about the commencement of usage of EVMs in Indian electoral process including details about its design, methodology, security, transportation and storage of machine also about the process of feeding the names of candidates and the counting of the votes polled.
He said that presently the 2013 model M-3 EVMs are being used in the State. The First Level Checking of the EVMs is being organized at District level by the District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner, during which the old data on the machines will be deleted and the machines will be prepared for the next coming parliament elections. He asked the representatives of all the parties to nominate their office bearers to attend FLC at all district headquarters.
BJP could not send its representative for this meeting but CEO Punjab Appealed to the party to send their representative for First Level Checking (FLC) in the Districts as per schedule. Two-hour long session held with all representatives of political parties, CEO explained about EVM, VVPAT and each and every step of First Level Checking, the exercise is being done in view of the coming parliament elections. He further said that the representatives of political parties must ensure their presence during the First Level checking. First Level checking will infuse confidence among all stakeholders about the functions of EVMs. It also helps in understanding the EVMs preparation and security measures which have been taken by the CEO office under Election Commission of India guidelines.
CEO further said that this process could build confidence in the election process it is a very transparent process under the direct supervision of District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner. Chief Electoral Office continuously monitors this First Level checking till the completed.
A technical team of BEL/EC will be there during the First Level checking. This team comprised of technical experts from EVM manufacturing PSUs. The team has been deputed to all districts to carry out the First Level checking. This is a highly technical job, includes checking of batteries, all the parts of EVMs, connections, display boards and switches and physical health of the EVM.
Chief Electoral Officer Dr. S.Karuna Raju has explained all issues including technical broad outlines about EVM, VVPAT and FLC to the representatives of the political parties. In the meeting representative of political parties assured Chief Electoral Officer of their full participation during First Level checking throughout the state.
During First Level checking if any machine found not up to the mark will be immediately separated and will be sent to the manufacturing public sector undertaking for further investigations.
