Amid growing allegations of voter roll tampering and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar provided a detailed clarification on Tuesday, addressing concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral process. With Delhi Assembly elections on the horizon, Kumar sought to reassure the public and political stakeholders about the robustness and transparency of the system.
Speaking to the media, CEC Rajiv Kumar categorically dismissed allegations of EVM tampering and electoral roll manipulations as baseless, stating, “Tampering with EVMs and Electoral Rolls is and will never be possible.” He emphasized that the Election Commission of India (ECI) remains committed to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections, asserting that the right to question is fundamental to democracy and will always be respected.
Kumar also highlighted six key concerns that had been flagged by political leaders and citizens regarding the electoral process. These included allegations of wrongful additions or deletions in electoral rolls targeting specific groups, claims of EVM manipulation, the sharp increase in voter turnout after 5 PM, mismatches between votes polled and counted in certain Assembly constituencies, delays in vote counting, and rule changes perceived to limit transparency.
Responding to these concerns, Kumar underlined the stringent procedures in place, stating that every step of the electoral process—from compiling electoral rolls to vote counting—is carried out under close scrutiny with political parties and candidates involved at every stage. He added that while questioning the process is a democratic right, judgments about its integrity cannot solely be based on election results.
The CEC’s remarks come at a critical juncture as the Election Commission faces heightened scrutiny over its ability to conduct elections free from external influence. Kumar assured that the ECI would continue to address all concerns with transparency and take every possible step to maintain public trust in the electoral system.