Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Supriya Sule has alleged that the the CCTV cameras of the strongroom, where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were kept after the polling in Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, was switched off for 45 minutes on Monday morning.
Sharing a video of the incident, the three-time MP from Baramati demanded an explanation from the Election Commission. Calling it 'suspicious', Sule urged the Election Commission to take immediate stock of the situation.
Here's what Supriya Sule say
"After the polling of Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, the CCTV in Godawan where the EVMs are kept was switched off for 45 minutes this morning. It is suspicious that the CCTV is switched off where a very important thing like EVM is kept. Also, this is a big laxity," she said in an X post.
Sule further said that she didn't receive any 'satisfactory answers' from the concerned authorities and technicians were not available at the godown.
"When the election representatives contacted the concerned authorities and administration, no satisfactory answers were received. Apart from this, technician is also not available at the said place. Also our representatives are not allowed to inspect the EVM status. This is very serious. The Election Commission should immediately take notice of this and announce the reasons why the CCTV was closed. Apart from this, appropriate action should be taken against those responsible for the incident," she added.
Returning Officer responds to Supriya Sule's allegations
Responding to Sule's allegations, Returning Officer for the constituency, Kavita Dwivedi, said that the CCTV system in the warehouse where the EVMs were stored was 'fully operational' and "only the display on the 'display unit was temporarily closed'.
Dwivedi denied any negligence in storing of EVMs and said in a statement, "A three-tier security is in place, and EVMs are all duly sealed, and the seals are intact. The returning officer visits the strong room regularly. Apart from this, as per office order AROS and AAROs visit the strong room as per guidelines of the Election Commission of India. It is denied that there is any negligence in storing EVMs."
She further said, "It is hereby brought to knowledge that the CCTV System was functional and that only the display on the display unit was unavailable. The data is intact and there is no interruption in the CCTV footage. All instructions regarding the backup as per protocols have been given to the agency. Same has been verified by viewing the CCTV footage.
The viewing facility of the strong room is an additional facility while all the security features protocols are duly followed and are uncompromised. A couple of representatives of the complainant were also present when the display was functional and when it went off. Since the CCTVs are intact and the due protocols are followed there is no reason for panic."
Baramati Lok Sabha elections
Baramati witnessed a significant contest between the Pawar family members on May 7. Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, contested against her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, who is the wife of her cousin and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
In July 2023, Ajit Pawar publicly aligned with the BJP-Eknath Shinde alliance, marking a significant split that was a major blow to his 83-year-old uncle. Out of the party's 53 MLAs, only 12 have been supporting NCP founder Sharad Pawar, while 41 MLAs are allied with Ajit Pawar. Among the MPs, there is an equal division, with two MPs supporting each side.
Sharad Pawar has won the Baramati LS constituency multiple times in the past. In the 2019 elections, Supriya Sule scored a hat-trick of winning the Baramati constituency as NCP nominee.
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