The storage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a college affiliated with a BJP candidate for the upcoming Navsari Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections scheduled for April 26 has sparked significant controversy. The Congress party has lodged a formal complaint with the returning officer, expressing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

The recently established corporation comprises 52 seats divided into 13 wards, with a total of 192 polling stations designated for the NMC elections.

The district administration has secured the EVMs in a strong room located at SS Agrawal College in Navsari. Congress candidate Piyush Dhimmer, representing ward number 6, along with other party officials, has raised issues with returning officer Ripal Chaudhary, highlighting that Mukesh Agrawal, the trustee of SS Agrawal College, is also a BJP candidate contesting in ward number 5.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Dhimmer expressed concerns about the potential for tampering, stating, “We learned that EVMs are stored at SS Agrawal College. We have submitted a complaint requesting that these machines be relocated, as we fear they could be compromised.”

The returning officer acknowledged the receipt of the complaint. “Today, we received a written request from a third party asking for the relocation of the EVMs. We informed them that the machines are housed in a secure environment with comprehensive CCTV coverage and security personnel present. We also mentioned that they could request to have a representative stationed at the strong room around the clock,” Chaudhary noted.

She elaborated, “Currently, we have 520 ballot units and 270 control units securely stored in the strong room, and we are actively monitoring their status. The college is centrally located within the town. These EVMs will be utilized for the NMC elections, while additional EVMs for the Navsari District Panchayat and Taluka Panchayat elections are stored at two other sites: Sanskar Bharti School and Garda College.”

Addressing the concerns raised by the Congress party, the returning officer indicated that discussions with higher authorities would be initiated to explore the possibility of transferring the EVMs from the college.

In response, Mukesh Agrawal, the BJP candidate and college trustee, stated that he would support the relocation of the EVMs. “We have operated the college for 19 years, with over 5,000 students enrolled. One of our buildings has been repurposed by the district administration for EVM storage. I would welcome the move to another location, as it would free up space for other uses,” he remarked.

Kamal Saiyed is a seasoned correspondent for The Indian Express, providing in-depth coverage from Surat and surrounding areas in South Gujarat, as well as the Union territories of Daman, Diu, and Dadra Nagar Haveli. Having reported for the publication since 2007, he has become a trusted voice on the region’s industrial, social, and political developments.

His areas of expertise include:

• Industrial & Economic Reporting: Based in Surat, known as the “Diamond City,” Saiyed covers the diamond and textile sectors, examining global market trends, local trade policies, and the socio-economic issues affecting workers in the area.
• Civic & Infrastructure Reporting: He regularly addresses urban development and public safety in Surat, including traffic management, urban planning, and public safety compliance.
• Political Reporting: His analysis tracks the evolving political landscape involving the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and neighboring Union territories.
• Crime Reporting: With a robust network of sources, Saiyed highlights the human aspects of crime stories within his coverage area.

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