EVMs Made in India Spark Political Row in Botswana, Opposition Fears Vote-Rigging
The ECI remains in a fix on whether to get involved in the political turmoil underway in Botswana, considering the ongoing debate in India over the alleged rigging of elections using EVMs.
New Delhi, May 31: Electronic voting machines 'made in India' have caused a political uproar in Botswana where the Opposition has protested against the government's proposal to conduct the 2019 general elections using the EVMs.
Officials of Botswana's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) were in Delhi on Wednesday to meet their counterparts in the Election Commission of India (ECI). The delegation from the southern African nation sought "4-5 EVMs" dispatched at the earliest to Botswana for demonstration before a court, along with the deployment of ECI personnel who could clear the apprehensions raised by the Opposition.
The ECI, however, remains in a fix on whether to get involved in the political row underway in Botswana, considering the ongoing debate in India over the alleged rigging of elections using EVMs.
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which is the prime Opposition in the landlocked African nation, alleged the government aims to "rig the elections next year" through EVM manipulation.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) denied the vote-rigging charge, saying the election process will remain transparent even after using the EVMs.
India's state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will be authorised to supply Botswana with EVMs for the October 2019 general elections. As per the assessment of IEC, a total of 57 constituencies and around 6,000 polling stations will be earmarked for voting.
BEL officials claim it would require 2-3 industrial days to manufacture the number of machines required for the elections in Botswana, considering the acute electoral size.
For the purpose of demonstration, however, the company claims it would not dispatch any of the EVMs which have been manufactured for elections in India, as ‘taking an EVM abroad’ could raise suspicion of hacking or misuse.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2018 10:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).