EVM Challenge: NCP & CPI(M) Did Not Want To Tamper, Says EC Chief
Each party will be given four EVMs and four hours to prove that the machines can be tampered with.
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- The Election Commission’s EVM challenge saw no action
- NCP and CPI(M) were the only parties to participate in the challenge
- Both parties did not want to tamper EVMs, claims CEC
- CEC says parties wanted “academic exercise”
- Challenge ended with no attempt to hack the machine
- AAP launched a registration portal for a parallel hacking challenge
The Election Commission’s “open” challenge to all political parties to tamper with the EVMs turned out to be a dud with both the parties participating in the challenge “not wanting to hack” the machine.
“ NCP too wanted to participate in an academic exercise. Both the parties did not want to tamper with the EVMs. This was not a hackathon. It was an open challenge”, said Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.
Though the four-hour challenge by EC scheduled to begin at 10 am, the NCP and the CPI(M) are yet to try their hand at hacking the electronic voting machines even at the end of the “academic” session.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party, launched a registration portal, to hold their own version of the EVM tampering challenge.
Chief Election Commissioner Addresses Media
Following the “open” EVM challenge held by the EC, the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Saturday addressed the press saying that neither CPI(M) nor NCP wished to participate in the challenge but wanted to understand the working of the EVMs.
He added that the EC will continue to receive suggestions from political parties but wished to reiterate that the the EVMs used by the political parties are not “tamper-able”.
No Attempt Made To Hack EVM
Representatives from the two parties, NCP and CPI(M), who turned up for the challenge met officials from companies that manufacture EVMs in order to “understand the functioning” of the machines, reported The Hindustan Times.
The four-hour “challenge” ended with the EC officials stating that a statement will be out later in the day, and without even attempting to hack the machine.
CPI Calls EC Challenge 'Deplorable'
The Communist Party of India on Saturday came down heavily on the Election Commission over its "deplorable" move of not allowing it to witness today's EVM challenge.
The CPI raised doubts about the EC's motive behind the "denial" and said the poll watchdog's "approach of secrecy to not allow the party" to witness the process was against spirit of its invitation letter seeking cooperation from political parties.
CPI(M) Holds Mock Poll
CPI(M) delegation, one of the two parties participating in the EC EVM tampering challenge conducted mock polling
EC Delays Challenge
Though the four-hour challenge by EC scheduled to begin at 10 am, the NCP and the CPI(M) are yet to try their hand at hacking the electronic voting machines even after three hours.
The four-hour challenge is to end at 2 pm.
AAP Invites EC To Participate
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is holding its own version of the EVM challenge has invited the Election Commission, and companies manufacturing EVMs along with political party to participate in their “open” challenge.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, who “exposed” how EVMs can be tampered with saod that EC’s challenge was an eye wash.
AAP to Hold Their Own Challenge
Following the EC’s refusal to hold an open hacking challenge, the Aam Aadmi Party announced that they will hold the parallel version of the EVM challenge.
The challenge will be held in AAP’s New Delhi office. It was scheduled to begin at 11:30 am on Saturday.
EC Briefs Hackers
Three representatives have been nominated by the NCP and the CPI to participate in the challenge. Representatives will be put in two separate counters, but the challenge will take place simultaneously.
The EC has picked 14 EVMs for the challenge from the five-states where assembly polls were held recently.
Bharat Electronics Limited team gave a detailed demo of EVMs and VVPAT machine to the representatives of both the parties.
EVM Challenge Commences
Following the complaints of EVM tampering by the Opposition parties after the five-state assembly elections, the Election Commission of India invited all political parties to participate in the challenge to prove that the machines were tampered.
While parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, were vocal in their accusation, only Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI registered for the challenge.
The EVM challenge began in the Election Commission’s office on Saturday morning and the hackers nominated by the NCP and the CPI will get four hours and four machines to prove that the machines can be hacked.