Jammu: Verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the Chenani assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir began on Thursday under tight security, officials said.
The move follows a request by Harsh Dev Singh, state president of the National Panthers Party, who unsuccessfully contested last year’s elections from this seat in Udhampur.
Officials noted that this is likely the second EVM verification exercise in the country this year. Earlier, ten candidates who had lost in the Maharashtra assembly polls sought verification of EVMs, which were subsequently found to be flawless on July 31, 2025.
On September 10, Udhampur District Election Officer (DEO) Saloni Rai scheduled September 18 and the following days for verification of EVMs in the Chenani assembly segment.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the process, Harsh Dev Singh said, “Today, we are setting a precedent by allowing EVMs to be opened for verification. This exercise will reveal if any electoral malpractice has occurred, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
He added that this is the first time such a process is being conducted in the area, describing it as “a step toward transparency. Those who have manipulated votes must resign from their positions.” Singh also alleged that the Election Commission is collaborating with the BJP to carry out irregularities.
BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, against whose election Singh had filed a review petition in the High Court last year, remarked, “In a democracy, any candidate who has contested elections and lost has the right to request EVM verification if they have doubts. Following this democratic process, the opposition member has requested checking and recounting of votes at three polling stations, which is currently underway.”
The verification is being held under strict security at the Government Degree College for Boys in Udhampur from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The DEO has invited all eligible candidates of political parties in the Chenani constituency to participate and requested that they acknowledge the intimation letter for the record.
Singh has also demanded that the results of the 2024 Chenani assembly election be declared null and void, accusing at least 19 respondents—including the Chief Election Commissioner of India—of widespread electoral law violations and misconduct during the election process.
