'No OTP for unlocking EVM': Election Commission junks media report, clarifies case of Mumbai North West seat

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has junked a media report that alleged that a polling officer's mobile phone used in unlocking the electronic voting machines (EVMs) was used by an aide of a Shiv Sena candidate.

The report by Mid-Day newspaper had alleged that a mobile phone used to generate one-time password (OTP), which is used to unlock the EVMs at the time of counting of votes, was used by the aide of Shiv Sena's Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, who defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amol Gajanan Kirtikar on Mumbai North West seat in Maharashtra.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mumbai Suburban District Election Officer Vandana Suryavanshi said that no such OTP is used to unlock an EVM.

Suryavanshi said that an EVM is a non-programmable machine and has no wireless communication capabilities.

Irrespective to what has been insinuated by the newspaper, Suryavanshi said that the incident in Mumbai NW constituency concerns "unauthorisedly using mobile phone of an authorised person by a candidate's aide". She said that a criminal case has already been filed by ECI in the matter.

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"EVMs are standalone devices without any wired or wireless connectivity with units outside EVM system. Advanced technical features and robust administrative safeguards are in place to rule out any possibility of manipulation. Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of candidates or their agents," said Suryavanshi.

The media report was used by the Opposition, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, to raise questions at the EVMs and the election's integrity. In recent years and through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition has levelled unfounded allegations on the credibility of EVMs and has called for voting via ballot papers as was the case before EVMs were introduced in 2004.

What's the Mumbai NW constituency's case?

The ECI issued the statement after the Mid-Day's report was used to raise questions at the credibility of EVMs.

The newspaper reported the police are investigating the role of Mangesh Pandilkar, a relative and aide of Ravindra Waikar, and Dinesh Gurav on the day of counting of votes at the counting centre at NESCO Centre, Mumbai. The paper reported that the police have found that Pandilkar was using the phone that was used to generate OTPs used to 'unlock' the EVMs.

The newspaper reported that the FIR on June 14 —as the ECI in its statement on Sunday also mentioned— was lodged by the ECI after receiving complaint of candidates. The paper further reported that the police had found that Gurav had used the same phone to generate the OTP to unlock the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for service voter.

In the elections on the Mumbai NW seat, the Shiv Sena's Waikar lost on the EVM votes but won after the postal ballots were factored in. Kirtikar of Shiv Sena (UBT) got 4,51,095 EVM votes against 4,51,094 of Waikar. Then, as the postal ballots were counted, the situation flipped. Waikar got 1,550 votes via postal ballots via Kirtikar got 1,501. The final count stood at Waikar's 4,52,644 and Kirtikar's 4,52,596.

The ECI has now refuted that no OTP is used to unlock EVM or ETPBS as EVMs are non-programmable machines. The ECI has further said that, contrary to what the paper has reported, the case registered with the police is about the unauthorised use of a polling officer's phone by a candidate's aide.

ETPBS counting happens physically, says ECI

As for the ETPBS counting mentioned in the newspaper report, the ECI said that it is a physical process and does not involve machines.

"Counting of ETPBS happens in physical form (paper ballots) and not electronics as being spread through false narratives. Every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS and EVM counting and postal ballot counting (including ETPBS) is signed by all counting agents after due diligence," said the ECI.

Suryavanshi further said that the ECI is initiating proceedings against the newspaper for "spreading rumours maligning Indian voters and the electoral system".