Nuapada bypoll EVM theft charge: CEO dismisses allegations as ‘baseless and impossible’

Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) RN Gopalan on Monday strongly dismissed allegations made by a political party that a truckload of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was secretly transported from Ganjam district to Nuapada ahead of the Assembly bypoll.

Calling the claims “baseless and impossible,” Gopalan clarified that no EVMs from any other district were moved to Nuapada and all machines being used there were sourced from its designated local warehouse.

Official Clarification From Election Commission

Speaking at a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Gopalan said, “EVMs are stored and procured only from the Nuapada warehouse. EVMs stored in other districts remain untouched. The allegation that the Nuapada Collector brought EVMs from Ganjam is entirely false.”

He added that there are two EVM warehouses in the Ganjam district. They remain sealed this month and have not been opened even for routine inspection.

The CEO stated that following the complaint, CCTV footage of both Ganjam warehouses was reviewed by his office and the Election Commission, and no irregularity was found. “We verified the video recordings ourselves and found that the warehouses were intact. There was no movement of any EVMs,” he confirmed.

Statewide Storage And Inspection Protocol

Gopalan explained that EVM strong rooms are located in all 30 districts of Odisha, each monitored under strict protocols. Every three months, officials conduct inspections in the presence of representatives from all recognised political parties. “These inspections are videographed for transparency,” he said.

The CEO further clarified that the movement of EVMs follows a standardised and traceable procedure.

“When an EVM is transported for repairs or replacement, every police station along the route is informed, and the vehicle details are shared for tracking,” he noted. He emphasised that it is technically and administratively impossible for any Collector or official to transport EVMs without clearance from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

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No Charges Ever Proved

The clarification came after a major political party accused the Nuapada Collector of secretly bringing a truckload of EVMs from Ganjam and hiding them locally. The charge, amplified by a TV channel through repeated telecasts, prompted the Election Commission to launch an immediate verification exercise.

Rejecting these allegations, Gopalan reiterated that no EVM-related complaint has ever been substantiated in Odisha. “For 75 years, the Election Commission of India has maintained complete transparency. No court has ever upheld any charge of EVM manipulation,” he said.

He urged voters not to believe in misinformation, especially during the sensitive pre-poll silence period. “Such claims are meant to mislead the public and erode trust. We assure voters that the integrity of the election process remains intact,” he added.

The CEO also confirmed that no complaint of cash distribution during the silence period had reached his office so far. “Our teams are maintaining strict vigilance. Any violation will be dealt with promptly,” he said.

Odisha currently maintains EVM warehouses in every district, all under CCTV surveillance. Each warehouse holds machines stored after previous elections, and they can only be used following certification, verification by party representatives, and authorisation by the Election Commission.

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Even the paper seals and registration numbers on the EVMs are verified before deployment. Once an EVM is approved for use, its details are entered into an official register, eliminating any possibility of substitution.

Closing his statement, Gopalan reaffirmed, “EVM movement and usage are governed by clear, transparent procedures. No machine can be brought in or taken out secretly. The allegations are unfounded and contrary to established election protocols.”