EVMs Rigged via Bluetooth: Modhwadia’s Complaint to EC

The Congress nominee from Porbandar claims a Bluetooth device was active in 3 polling booths in his constituency.

Arjun Modhwadia is up against a tough fight with BJP’s Babu Bokhiria in the Porbandar assembly constituency.

PTI

Congress nominee from the Porbandar seat, Arjun Modhwadia, has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that three electronic voting machines (EVM) inspected by him were connected to a Bluetooth device.

Speaking to The Quint, the senior Congress leader confirmed he had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

The three EVMs that we have checked could be connected to Bluetooth. A device named ‘ECO’ shows up when you switch on Bluetooth on mobile phones. This is a very serious matter. I have taken screenshots and filed a complaint with the Election Commission.

Arjun Modhwadia, Congress candidate, Porbandar 

The complaint alleges rigging in three EVMs at booth number 145, 146 and 147 at the Sharda Mandir school, Porbandar.

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Photo of the complaint lodged by Arjun Modhwadia.(Photo: The Quint)

Arjun Modhwadia lodged a complaint submitting screenshots of EVMs connected to Bluetooth devices.(Photo: The Quint)

Clash of Titans in Gandhi’s Birth Place

The fight for the Porbandar Assembly seat, which is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, is being set up as a clash of titans. The former Leader of Opposition, Modhwadia, is up against BJP’s Babu Bokhiria. The two are old political rivals and have clashed three times – in 1998, 2002, and 2012. The score is at 2:1, in favour of Babu Bokhiria, with Arjun Modhwadia having won the seat only in 2002.

The fishing community is key to winning the coastal seat. Bokhiria claimed the BJP had the firm support of the fishing community, which received a special Diwali package that included diesel subsidy to the tune of Rs 189 crore. He also boasted of having ushered in developmental projects worth Rs 500 crore.

Rahul Gandhi has campaigned extensively in Porbandar, and promised to uplift the fishing community by further subsidising diesel and setting up a separate Fisheries Ministry, if voted to power. As for the BJP’s claim of ‘vikas’, Modhwadia said the infrastructure in the rural and urban pockets is in “shambles.”