No link between EVM arrival and early polls in Odisha: Chief Electoral Officer’s PRO

Putting all speculations to rest, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Friday stated that the recent arrival of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to some districts has nothing to do with early polls in Odisha.

The CEO’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) today clarified that EVMs have a life span and factor made EVMs are being supplied to States including Odisha for use in future elections. However, this has no connection with the timing of future general elections.

“Some speculation in media regarding early election has come to our notice. It is requested to refrain from such speculations,” the official release read.

It is pertinent to mention here that speculation over early polls in Odisha was triggered after several units of EVMs reached Puri district recently.

Around 8,200 new electronic voting machines (EVMs) from Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad had reached the state in the first phase. All the EVMs and VVPATs have been kept in safe custody at the warehouse in Puri.