Himachal election officials visit EVM warehouse near Shimla; are polls looking or something else?

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer Nandita Gupta conducted an inspection of the EVM (electronic voting machines) warehouse in Fagu, near Shimla, raising questions among locals and political observers alike — are elections looming or is this just a routine check?

According to the District Election Officer and Shimla’s Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, the inspection was part of a regular procedure mandated by the Election Commission of India.

The Deputy Commissioner clarified that the Chief Electoral Officer’s visit to the EVM warehouse was a routine inspection, conducted as per the directives of the Election Commission to ensure the security and preparedness of electoral processes.

During the inspection, Nandita Gupta found everything in order, with the warehouse being well-organised and secure. Key aspects of the security measures were also checked, including the police guard, duty registers, fire safety equipment, CCTV cameras and the electricity system.

These safety protocols are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the electronic voting machines, which are vital for the upcoming elections.

It’s noteworthy that the Election Commission carries out regular checks to ensure that all EVMs are securely stored and protected from any potential tampering or mishandling. The inspection also included a review of other important security measures to safeguard the equipment, ensuring it remains in top condition for any future elections.

In attendance were several prominent figures, including Additional District Magistrate Jyoti Rana, Theog SDM Mukesh Sharma, DSP Siddharth Sharma, as well as representatives from both the Congress and BJP parties.

While the inspection has sparked some speculation about upcoming elections, officials have assured the public that this was a routine procedure and not a sign of an immediate electoral process.

Sunil Chadha