48-vote case: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam refutes claims of using mobile to operate EVM

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Sanjay Nirupam, a Shiv Sena leader, held a press conference today to address the allegations related to news report surfaced about Ravindra Waikar's kin allegedly possessing phone connected to EVM at Goregaon's NESCO centre during counting of votes.

In the Press conference, he refuted claims that a relative of Waikar used a mobile phone inside a counting center to generate an OTP for unlocking an electronic voting machine (EVM).

As told by Returning officer, Vamdana Suryawanshi in a press conference on Sunday, Nirupam too emphasised on the fact that, EVMs do not operate through phones and is a stand alone device.

Nirupam said that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is running a smear campaign against Eknath Shinde's Sena.

Addressing the press conference, Nirupam stated, "This is the first time I have heard that an EVM can be unlocked through a mobile. People like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, Akhilesh Yadav from Samajwadi Party, and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav have alleged EVM hacking."

He added, " Ravindra Waikar had already won with a margin of 48 vote, and the opposition should now accept the results."

The complainant, Amol Kirtikar (a Sena-UBT candidate), had reportedly requested a recount of votes and planned to file an election petition in court.

"Recounting happened twice, as demanded by both candidates, and the process was clean and recorded on CCTV," he added.

"If recounting was demanded, then it was done with due process," he said, adding that "Waikar hasn't done any fraud. No EVM operates through mobile phones. It's a fact. Hence, there is no question of OTP".

"This was a false narrative by the MVA and INDIA alliance against Sena candidate Waikar run with the help of a newspaper," the Shiv Sena leader asserted.

"Party president and CM Eknath Shinde will reveal the party's stand and course of action against this case, in the coming days for sure," said Nirupam.

Ravindra Waikar's relative was allegedly accused of using a mobile phone inside the counting center, which is against the regulations, leading to Ravindra Waikar's win with a margin of 48 votes.

According to the latest updates, Vandana Suryawanshi (RO), in a press conference on June 16, said that the CCTV of the vote counting hall, cannot be provided without any orders from the Competent court.

Suryawanshi when asked about the OTP system in the EVM, she said, "There is no OTP generated in the EVM. It is non communicable device. EVM is a stand alone machine."