MARGAO: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Benaulim candidate Churchill Alemao on Wednesday has suspected that some forces are trying to manipulate the EVM machines in order to benefit certain candidates, and hence he has urged all the candidates and political parties to be alert.
Addressing the media persons at his Varca office he also said that his decision will depend on the party leadership whether to support the BJP, if elected. However, he feels that secular parties have a good opportunity to form the next government in Goa.
Churchill said news being spread in the State pertaining to manipulating the EVM machines, and there are more possibilities that the result may change.
“There is no doubt that the EVMs can be manipulated by remote control from a certain distance, and one need not enter the strong rooms to tamper with them. However, since the VVPATS now have a paper trail, one can easily count the paper ballots and check if the paper ballots match the EVM result. I am suspecting that there are attempts to manipulate the EVM machines in order to benefit certain candidates”, he stated. He further urged the candidates, who are most likely to be elected to remain aware.
“They should be prepared to demand for counting of all the voting slips, and not just slips of three EVM machines”, said Churchill.
He said how will the candidate know which EVM machine is hacked? Since the paper trail is available, why can’t the Election Commission (EC) allow the candidates to count all booths, and satisfy their doubts? This option must be kept open. This may take a little bit more time, but it will make the counting process more transparent and full proof.
“Only three countries, including India, are using EVM machines for the elections, and the rest of all countries have stopped the system,” claimed Churchill.
He will be writing to the Election Commission in this regard, and will also ask his party leaders to do the same. Churchill has urged all the candidates, who have chances of winning, and their political parties to submit a memorandum pertaining to the same to the Election Commission.
TMC Benaulim candidate is very much sure that no party can form the next government without the support of the TMC.
“I cannot support the BJP if elected unless the party decides so. At the same time the wishes of my voters will be taken into consideration. One thing I can tell all the people is that secular political parties have good chances to form the next government in Goa”, said Churchill.
