Latest news with #Dodke
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Dodke halts verification of EVMs as VVPAT slips not included
Pune: The checking and verification of EVMs and VVPAT slips came to a halt on Friday after Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) candidate from Khadakwasla assembly constituency, Sachin Dodke, objected to the process. Election officials carry EVMs from a distribution centre in Amritsar. AFP Dodke, who contested and lost the assembly election from Khadakwasla against BJP's Bhimrao Tapkir, had approached the district collector's office seeking verification of EVMs (electronic voting machines) and VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) slips. He had also deposited the requisite fee as mandated by the Election Commission of India. As per procedure announced earlier, the verification process began on Friday. However, Dodke raised objections, claiming the process was not being carried out as per norms. 'We had demanded counting of votes in both EVMs and VVPAT slips. But the officials refused to do so. I have submitted my objections in writing. If the poll body does not carry out VVPAT counting, I will move court,' said Dodke. Responding to the allegation, election officer Yashwant Mane said, 'We initiated the checking and verification of EVMs in Dodke's presence as per his application. Two EVMs were taken up and the process was carried out in accordance with Election Commission guidelines.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Khadakwasla NCP(SP) candidate opts for diagnostic test, skips EVM mock poll
1 2 3 Pune: The district election office on Friday completed the EVM re-verification process for Khadakwasla assembly segment's NCP (SP) candidate Sachin Dodke, who opted only for self-diagnostic test and declined the mock poll. Dodke, who filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court, cited concerns over deletion of EVM data and gave a written declaration refusing to proceed with the mock poll, which requires erasing all existing data and casting 1,400 dummy votes to test the machines. There was no error found after the diagnostic test of the machines, election officials stated. District collector and district election officer Jitendra Dudi confirmed the process was carried out as per the candidate's request. "Dodke opted for Annexure 1 — the self-diagnostic test — and declined Annexure 2, which is the mock poll," Dudi told TOI. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Election officials said the two EVM sets selected by the candidate were tested through the diagnostic process. Engineers powered on ballot and control units, checked the display timings, and overall functionality. No errors were detected. "The mock poll cannot be carried out unless the data is deleted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The candidate declined this step due to his pending writ petition," a senior election official explained. Speaking to TOI, Dodke said, "I wasn't comfortable deleting the poll data as it may impact my case in the High Court. I paid for verification of VVPAT slips of polled votes, and if that's not permitted, the mock poll becomes meaningless." The diagnostic test is the first stage of EVM re-verification, confirming if the machines are functioning properly. The mock poll, which comes next, involves casting up to 1,400 dummy votes and comparing VVPAT slips with the control unit results. Engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) oversee the entire process. As per Supreme Court guidelines, two losing candidates per constituency are allowed to request burnt memory verification of up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting date. The cost of the diagnostic test is Rs 23,600 per EVM set, while the mock poll raises the cost to Rs 47,200. Pune: The district election office on Friday completed the EVM re-verification process for Khadakwasla assembly segment's NCP (SP) candidate Sachin Dodke, who opted only for self-diagnostic test and declined the mock poll. Dodke, who filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court, cited concerns over deletion of EVM data and gave a written declaration refusing to proceed with the mock poll, which requires erasing all existing data and casting 1,400 dummy votes to test the machines. There was no error found after the diagnostic test of the machines, election officials stated. District collector and district election officer Jitendra Dudi confirmed the process was carried out as per the candidate's request. "Dodke opted for Annexure 1 — the self-diagnostic test — and declined Annexure 2, which is the mock poll," Dudi told TOI. Election officials said the two EVM sets selected by the candidate were tested through the diagnostic process. Engineers powered on ballot and control units, checked the display timings, and overall functionality. No errors were detected. "The mock poll cannot be carried out unless the data is deleted. The candidate declined this step due to his pending writ petition," a senior election official explained. Speaking to TOI, Dodke said, "I wasn't comfortable deleting the poll data as it may impact my case in the High Court. I paid for verification of VVPAT slips of polled votes, and if that's not permitted, the mock poll becomes meaningless." The diagnostic test is the first stage of EVM re-verification, confirming if the machines are functioning properly. The mock poll, which comes next, involves casting up to 1,400 dummy votes and comparing VVPAT slips with the control unit results. Engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) oversee the entire process. As per Supreme Court guidelines, two losing candidates per constituency are allowed to request burnt memory verification of up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting date. The cost of the diagnostic test is Rs 23,600 per EVM set, while the mock poll raises the cost to Rs 47,200.
The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Maharashtra polls: In EVM checking-reverification process, losing candidate seeks VVPAT count
Dodke, who was defeated in the November 2024 polls by BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir, had approached the Election Commission of India seeking verification of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) from two centres in Khadakwasla constituency. Pune, Jul 25 (PTI) The EVM checking and reverification process for Khadakwasla assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Pune district came to a halt on Friday after NCP (SP) candidate Sachin Dodke raised objections to the procedure. Speaking to reporters, Dodke said he expected the counting of the VVPAT slips during the checking and reverification process. 'But we were only shown the final result on the EVM machine. Our demand is that the VVPAT slips should be counted. We objected to the process, halted it, and submitted an application seeking counting of VVPAT slips. If they (EC) do not agree to this, we will not proceed and will fight the matter in court,' he said. Yashwant Mane, Election Officer for Khadakwasla constituency, who was conducting the checking and verification of the EVMs, said Dodke had requested verification of the burnt memory of EVM microcontrollers from two centres in his constituency. 'As per his application, the Election Commission of India allowed the verification. Accordingly, today the EVMs from two centres as requested were taken out for burnt memory and EVM verification in his presence,' Mane said. Elaborating on the process, Mane said after the reverification of the EVMs and burnt memory, the next step involved conducting a mock poll and counting the VVPAT slips generated during it. 'To conduct the mock poll, the existing data on the EVM needs to be erased in the candidate's presence. However, the candidate submitted an application requesting that the data on the EVM not be erased. He refused to allow the mock poll. Since the candidate did not permit the mock poll, the process was deemed completed,' Mane informed. Asked about Dodke's demand for counting the VVPAT slips, Mane clarified that random counting of VVPAT slips had already been conducted on the day of vote counting. 'So there is no question of counting the VVPAT slips again. Today's process was restricted to the checking and verification of the burnt memory and EVMs, which includes showing that the machine was not tampered with and displaying the final result to the candidate,' the official said. The second step, which could not be carried out, was to conduct a mock poll and count the VVPAT slips, he added. PTI SPK BNM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune: Poll officer says EVM inspection, verification done; Dodke claims demand not met
The Pune district election office on Friday said it has completed inspecting and verifying electronic voting machines (EVMs) of two polling stations in Khadakwasla assembly constituency. However, NCP(SP) candidate Sachin Dodke claimed that the process was stopped midway, after election officers refused to accept his demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to verify the actual voting. Dodke was defeated by BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir by 52,000 votes in Khadakwasla assembly seat in the November 2024 assembly elections. He was one of the many who raised doubts over the EVMs and alleged it was being tampered with. EVM inspections and verifications, which also involves mock polls, for Khadakwasla was done at a Bhosari godown in the district, where voting machines are stored in a strong room. 'We have carried out the process of inspection and verification of EVMs of two polling stations in the Khadakwasla assembly constituency as per the demand of the applicant. He was shown the count on EVM of the assembly election. However, he refused to have the EVMs' memory erased for the next step, which is conducting the mock poll, and has given it in writing, so the process stands completed now from our side,' said Yashwant Mane, returning officer of Khadakwasla assembly seat. Regarding the demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to match the count on EVMs, he said, 'This was not part of the SoP laid down to us for inspection and verification of EVMs. However, matching EVM data and VVPAT data of five EVMs was done during the counting process.' Dodke said that EVM count was shown during the counting process and questioned why he would spend money to do the same thing again. 'My demand was to hold a recount by verifying the EVMs' count with VVPAT slips to assure that there was no tampering of EVMs during elections. I am not satisfied and will appeal against it in the court,' he said. He claimed the verification process and selection of EVMs was stopped as the election officers were unable to justify his demands. The district election office was to inspect and verify EVMs of 27 polling booths in Hadapsar constituency as per the demand of NCP(SP) candidate Prashant Jagtap. He later informed his election petition was pending in the Bombay High Court so the process of his application was suspended on Thursday. After losing the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates had alleged irregularities. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
NDTV
10-06-2025
- NDTV
Hives To Be Removed From Ajanta Cave Complex After Bees Attack Tourists
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Following incidents of honey-bee attacks on tourists, the forest department has started the process of removing 13 hives from four caves at the world-famous Ajanta Cave complex, an official told PTI here on Tuesday. The bees will be relocated, he said. Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in central Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. "Recently, bees attacked some tourists, so we are relocating them and removing the hives. There are one, two, six and four bee hives outside caves 4, 9, 10 and 26, respectively. We have removed a hive from cave no 4 so far," said Ajanta Range Forest Officer Santosh Dodke. A scaffold was being erected in cave number 10, he said. "This hive is at a height of around 50-60 feet, outside cave no 10. Most attacks on tourists take place at this spot. We may finish erecting the structure by tonight. We will collect the bees in a bag and release them in an identical environment around 20 km away," Dodke told PTI. It could take a week or longer to clear all the hives, he added. Asked about steps to prevent new hives being formed at the same spots, he said, "ASI officials have consulted chemical conservation experts. Their reply is awaited." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
