"EVMs cannot be hacked and there is no electoral roll manipulation": CEC Rajiv Kumar rejects allegations and shares retirement plans

NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar rejected the allegations that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be tampered with and voter list manipulation while announcing the first election of this year. "Democracy gives the right to raise questions. It is respected. However, baseless allegations are being raised. It is impossible to tamper with EVM. India is the gold standard when it comes to elections. We are ready to punish if there are any mistake individually, we are ready to take punishment too. We think all Delhi voters should cast their votes. Voting was kept on a Wednesday deliberately like in Maharashtra because of this. Star campaigners should maintain politeness. Bad behaviour will not be tolerated."

Cannot be hacked

"The vote share will naturally increase when updated at midnight and the next day. Every step of the election is conducted transparently. The voting machine is flawless. No one can hack it. No malware or virus can be installed. Supreme Court and High Courts have clarified this many times. EVMs are handled in the presence of political party representatives and officials at every stage of the election. Name cannot be removed without hearing the voter. If the voter has died, the voter's death certificate will be verified," Rajiv Kumar explained in Shayari style.

In the Himalayas after retirement

Rajiv Kumar, who is retiring on February 18, has indicated that this will be his last press conference as Chief Election Commissioner. "After retirement I will go to the Himalayas in search of solitude. I will be there for four to five months," added Rajiv Kumar. Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is expected to become the Chief Election Commissioner after Rajiv Kumar leaves. Gyanesh Kumar was a 1988 batch Kerala cadre officer.