Assam's Election Preparations: EVM Randomisation Completed Ahead of Assembly Polls

EVM Randomisation Marks Key Milestone

Guwahati, March 19: As the countdown to the Assembly elections on April 9 begins, Assam's election officials have successfully completed the initial randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) across all 35 districts, which encompass 126 Assembly constituencies.

This significant step, carried out from 11 am at the District Election Officers' (DEOs) offices, is crucial in the lead-up to the elections. Representatives from recognized national and state political parties were present during this process, adhering to the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure transparency.

The first phase of randomisation involves distributing EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) to various constituencies using the EVM Management System (EMS). This automated process minimizes the potential for manual interference, thereby enhancing fairness and protecting against any form of bias or tampering.

Officials noted that having political party representatives present during this exercise adds credibility, bolstering public confidence in the electoral system's integrity.

In tandem, the ECI has increased its oversight in critical districts. In the Kamrup Metropolitan election district, two general observers, two expenditure observers, and one police observer have been appointed to oversee the electoral process, including monitoring expenditures and maintaining law and order.

Pradeep Kumar Krishnarao Dange and Him Shekhar Gupta will serve as general observers, while Ranjan Prakash and Rajat Sen will focus on expenditure oversight. Aslam Khan has been assigned as the police observer. All observers have arrived in Guwahati and taken charge.

Election authorities have also made contact numbers available for citizens to report any election-related issues, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance.

With essential pre-election processes in motion and monitoring systems established, the state's election machinery has reaffirmed its dedication to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in line with ECI guidelines.