The Congress has launched an all-out attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over recovery of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) from a vehicle of the saffron party’s MLA and candidate in Assam Assembly elections.

Late on Thursday night, after conclusion of the second phase of polling for the Assam Assembly elections, EVMs were recovered from a private vehicle that belonged to a sitting BJP MLA and candidate in Assam Assembly elections.

The vehicle, from where the EVMs were recovered, belonged to BJP MLA and candidate from Patharkandi constituency in Karimganj district – Krishnendu Paul.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended four polling officials deputed in Assam’s Karimganj district after they were found transporting an EVM in the BJP MLA’s vehicle.

The ECI has also ordered re-polling in the booth of Ratabari LAC from where the EVMs were transported, and an FIR is likely to be filed in the case.

Also read: Assam Assembly election: Election Commission suspends four polling officials after EVM found in BJP MLA’s vehicle

The Congress, on the other hand, has lambasted the BJP over the recovery of the EVMs from the vehicle of a BJP candidate in Assam.

Top Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has slammed the BJP over the recovery of EVMs from the vehicle of a BJP candidate in Assam.

Priyanka Gandhi said: “Every time there is an election videos of private vehicles caught transporting EVM’s show up. Unsurprisingly they have the following things in common:

  1. The vehicles usually belong to BJP candidates or their associates.
  2. The videos are taken as one off incidents and dismissed as aberrations.
  3. The BJP uses its media machinery to accuse those who exposed the videos as sore losers.

The fact is that too many such incidents are being reported and nothing is being done about them. The EC needs to start acting decisively on these complaints and a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVM’s needs to be carried out by all national parties.”

Priyanka Gandhi further tweeted: “Election Commission’s vehicle broke down and out of the blue another vehicle comes to the rescue. The vehicle belongs to a BJP candidate. And our innocent election officials take a ride in that vehicle.

“Dear EC, What’s the matter? Can you come up with a clarification in this issue?”

Congress’ MP from Assam and Deputy Leader of the House in Lok Sabha – Gaurav Gogoi said: “It is the same script in every election – Election Commission car broke down, EVM machines transferred to car belonging to BJP, later officials find out after public express their anger. Election Commission needs to save itself before public trust is eroded completely.”