Maha: Markadwadi villagers challenge EVMs with mock ballot exercise

Residents of Markadwadi village in Malshiras taluka, Solapur district, have decided to conduct a mock ballot voting exercise, challenging the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the recent state assembly elections. The villagers, sceptical of the election outcome, have resolved to switch to traditional ballot paper voting, funding the initiative independently.

The controversy erupted after BJP candidate and former MLA Ram Satpute secured an unexpected lead in the village, garnering 1,003 votes against 843 votes for Uttam Jankar, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction candidate. Historically, Jankar has consistently received overwhelming support from Markdwadi in previous elections, including the assembly polls of 2009, 2014 and 2019, as well as during Lok Sabha contests.

For the first time, the Jankar group witnessed a significant decline in support, prompting allegations of discrepancies in the EVMs. “Something went wrong in this election,” the group stated in a letter submitted to the Malshiras tehsildar, demanding a mock ballot voting exercise to ascertain the accuracy of the results.

Villagers said they were ready for the ballot test as preparations for the trial voting were already complete, with printed ballot papers ready for distribution. Scheduled for 3 December, they plan to hold the voting from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by an immediate vote count.

The Jankar group has requested government oversight to ensure procedural transparency and has offered to cover the entire cost of the exercise. The tehsildar’s office has, however, said that such an exercise cannot be termed as official and had no validity.

The group has also called on all eligible voters who participated in the recent assembly elections to cast their votes again in the mock election, aiming to replicate the conditions of the original poll.

This unprecedented decision by Markadwadi has sparked debate across the state. Leaders from other political parties, including the Congress, have expressed concerns about the reliability of EVMs, citing this incident as a reason to reconsider the traditional voting method.

While the Election Commission has not commented on the legality or implications of such a mock exercise, the move by Markadwadi’s villagers underscores growing apprehensions regarding EVM integrity.

The results of this mock voting exercise, anticipated later on 3 December, are expected to add to the ongoing debate on EVM reliability in Indian elections. All eyes will be on Markdwadi as the village takes an unorthodox step to test the validity of its electoral process. It also remains to be seen if such an exercise will be allowed by the district authorities.