After the Haryana Assembly election results, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party won 48 out of a total of 90 assembly seats, the opposition has once again raised accusations of EVM tampering. Meanwhile, a graphic is going viral on X, stating that in regard to the Haryana election results, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar remarked that the EVM is “100% secure,” adding that the people of Haryana have given their answers.
Bolta Hindustan wrote, “”While the EVM is ‘100% secure,’ the people of Haryana have given answers” said Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner.”
EVM '100% सुरक्षित' है, हरियाणा की जनता ने जवाब दे दिया है : राजीव कुमार, CEC pic.twitter.com/6Dwqq08vyx
— Bolta Hindustan (@BoltaHindustan) October 15, 2024
IP Singh claimed, “Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is speaking the language of BJP. EVM is 100% insecure. Remove EVM, Save democracy.”
बीजेपी की भाषा बोल रहे हैं मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त राजीव कुमार।
— I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp) October 15, 2024
EVM 100% असुरक्षित है।
EVM हटाओ
लोकतंत्र बचाओ pic.twitter.com/Zra0vGYUNu
The same claim was also made by several other users on X, including Rakesh Meena, Manoj Mulnivasi, Shobhnath Rao, Wajid Shaikh, Manoj Yadav, Manraj Meena, and Wasiuddin Siddiqui.
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Fact Check
In our fact-check research, we conducted a keyword search and found a video uploaded by India TV on its YouTube channel. In the video, at the 37-second mark, the ANI reporter poses a question to Election Commission Chief Rajeev Kumar, stating that “questions have continuously been raised about the EVM and emphasizing the need for free and fair elections. All the leaders of the opposition parties have also raised concerns about the EVM, even after the Haryana elections. Even today, they are saying that they hope the elections will be free and fair, unbiased, and that the EVMs will maintain accuracy. This is an important question often raised at the Election Commission.”
In response to the question, Rajeev Kumar stated, “The public answers the questions by participating in the voting process. As far as the EVM is concerned, it is 100% foolproof. I have mentioned this many times, and if this question arises again in the press conference, I will address it.” However, he did not mention that the people of Haryana have given answers.
Further, we reviewed the Election Commission’s press conference video. In the video, when the media began asking questions, an ANI journalist raised the issue that after the Haryana and J&K elections, as well as the Lok Sabha elections, the exit polls were completely reversed or proved to be incorrect. As a result, questions were raised regarding the EVMs. A News Nation journalist also mentioned that concerns were raised after the Haryana election results, with complaints regarding the battery as well.
Rajiv Kumar responded by saying that exit polls create expectations, which lead to distortion. When the actual election results are announced, there is often a mismatch between the exit poll predictions and the real outcomes. This happens because exit polls lack clarity on factors such as the sample size, where the survey was conducted, and how the data was analyzed. As a result, when the actual results start coming in and don’t align with these expectations, it leads to confusion and frustration. Regarding the battery issue, he explained that 5-6 days before the voting process, the commissioning takes place where the EVM is fitted with a new battery and sealed with the candidates’ signatures. It is then kept in a strong room with triple-layered security. On the day of polling, the EVMs are taken out, and the entire process is videographed.
In the press conference video, when asked about the opposition’s accusation of EVM tampering, Rajiv Kumar nowhere said that the people of Haryana have given their answers.
His original statement has been misrepresented. In his actual statement, he said that the public answers the question by enthusiastically participating in the voting process and that the EVMs are 100% secure.
| Claim | Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar remarked that the EVM is “100% secure,” adding that the people of Haryana have given their answers. |
| Claimed by | Bolta Hindustan, IP Singh and X users. |
| Fact Check | Rajiv Kumar in the actual statement said that public participation in the voting process answers the question and that EVMs are 100% secure. |
Also Read: The Wire’s Founding Editor MK Venu Spreads False Claims of 19 Lakh Missing EVMs
