SDF raises questions on EVM use, demands transparency in Sikkim elections
At a press conference held on Saturday, SDF spokesperson Krishna Kharel said that the party has filed a formal complaint with the crime branch regarding possible tampering of EVM machines and related election documents.
LOCAL
The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has once again voiced doubts over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the state’s elections, alleging irregularities and a lack of transparency in the voting process.
At a press conference held on Saturday, SDF spokesperson Krishna Kharel said that the party has filed a formal complaint with the crime branch regarding possible tampering of EVM machines and related election documents. The complaint was submitted on July 8, 2024, and registered the next day. A copy was also sent to the Sikkim Election Commission.
Kharel said that the party had raised concerns about EVMs long before the 2024 elections. “We had suggested to the Election Commission that elections should be conducted through ballot papers to maintain public trust. We had also asked them to stop voter transfers between constituencies at least three months before the polls. Unfortunately, none of our suggestions were accepted,” he said.
According to Kharel, the party has identified several irregularities. These include problems during mock polls, mismatches between the number of votes cast and the names on voter lists, discrepancies in voting time records, and suspicious changes to Form 17C paper slips, which record the vote count. In some cases, corrections were made with white ink, and there were changes in EVM identification numbers.
Kharel alleged that these irregularities point to a misuse of constitutional institutions and the influence of money power. “We were confident of winning based on public feedback, but the results were shocking. After a detailed analysis, we found signs of manipulation that cannot be ignored,” he said.
He said that the role of the Election Commission is to conduct free and fair elections, but the way the 2024 polls were handled had led to public disappointment and suspicion. The SDF, he said, would continue to fight to protect the people’s votes and safeguard democratic values.
“The people of Sikkim deserve elections that are transparent and fair. Our responsibility is to make sure their trust in democracy is not broken,” Kharel added.