Anti-incumbency factor that stemmed from ten years of DAN’s misrule characterized by deep-rooted corruption was the slogan of 2013 State general election. The pre-poll popular will of the people of Nagaland was for a change from this malady. Yet, all pre-poll calculations and predictions; except in the tallies of NCP and independents turned out to be wrong. The landslide win by NPF and colossal loss by Congress was beyond belief by even their own party men given the fact that the final assessment drawn in the last leg of hectic campaigning was a totally different story. The massive winning margins by NPF candidates in most of the constituencies added to the disbelief. The electorates who knew to whom they had voted were betrayed.
What could have caused the result reversal? The only answer to this mind-boggling question is tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) which is highly vulnerable to fraud. The tall claim of the Election Commission of India that EVM is infallible and tamper-proof was only an administrative argument and defense founded on blind faith in the machine. Technologically, it is possible. Nowadays, when a scientist sitting in a closed room can easily repair and control a complicated missile in unreachable space, what is so unique about the EVM’s electronic technology?
Paperless EVMs have been banned in countries like Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Florida and Japan because these countries have accepted the facts that; technologically, it is possible to tamper it and politically because there’s total lack of transparency in electronics voting. Primarily, the threat is more in the dishonest election insiders than in the machine itself which, even the Election Commission of India (ECI) can’t rule out.
Transparency is the touch-stone of a vibrant democracy. Failure to ensure transparency (physical proof of voting) is an infringement on the fundamental right of the electorate. EVM has hold democracy to ransom. The complaints against the use of EVM in Indian elections have become national movement. People have lost faith in this “Satanic machine” and rejected it. EVMs should be done away with in all future elections. Unless the ECI heeds to the voices of the people, Indian democracy will be murdered on the altar of EVM.
The non-NPF candidates of Phek district are convinced that the result of the February 2013 election was fraud with manipulation by tampering EVMs. We are hopeful that the complaint submitted to the ECI by the non-NPF candidates of Phek district will be examined with all seriousness and investigated to its logical conclusion for the larger interest of the nation.
Non-NPF Candidates of Phek district:
Vaprumu Demo
INC candidate, 18th Chozuba A/C
Chitho Nyusou (for Khuosatho)
INC candidate, 20th Meluri A/C
Vezokho Chotso
Independent candidate, 18th Chozuba A/C
Kevechutso Doulo
Independent candidate, 17th Chizami A/C
Vivolie Kezo
Independent candidate, 16th Pfutsero A/C
Er. Vekho Swuro
Independent candidate, 19th Phek A/C
K Therie
INC candidate, 16th Pfutsero A/C
Z. Lohe
NCP candidate, 17th Chizami A/C
Dr. K. Hoshi
INC candidate, 19th Phek A/C
Thenucho Tunyi
UNDP candidate, 16th Pfutsero A/C
Vetetso Lasuh
INC candidate, 17th Chizami A/C
