EVMs found in TMC candidate's house; BJP demands independent inquiry from Election Commission

The BJP on Tuesday demanded an independent inquiry from the Election Commission after electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT machines were found in a TMC leader's house in a constituency in West Bengal's Howrah district.

Four EVMs and a similar number of VVPAT machines were found at the house of the Trinamool Congress leader in the Uluberia constituency following which an election official was suspended by the poll body.

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Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said it is a serious matter that a day before the polling EVMs and VVPAT machines were found in the TMC leader's house and were confiscated.

"And this becomes more serious that the machines were brought by a car which was on election duty. There should be a full-fledged inquiry in this matter and we are sure that the Election Commission will do a separate and independent inquiry," he said.

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The EVMs and VVPAT machines were not used in Tuesday's polling and were seized by the poll panel.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate from the constituency Chiran Bera alleged that the incident was part of the TMC's plan to rig the election, a charge denied by the ruling party.