Following a petition by former CM M.K. Stalin, the Election Commission has initiated the verification of EVM microcontrollers and burnt memory in 14 polling booths in Kolathur.

Key Takeaways

  • Verification of EVMs in 14 polling booths in Kolathur has commenced.
  • The move follows a petition by DMK leader M.K. Stalin regarding vote discrepancies.
  • Technical authentication is being conducted by BHEL engineers.
  • The process will span seven days in two distinct phases.

The political landscape in Tamil Nadu remains tense following the 2026 Assembly elections. The checking and verification of the burnt memory and microcontrollers of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in 14 polling booths in the Kolathur Assembly constituency began on Wednesday. This significant action follows a formal petition filed by the defeated DMK candidate and former Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, before the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Mr. Stalin, who lost the seat to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate V.S. Babu by a margin of 8,795 votes, alleged that a significant number of expected votes in his favor were not recorded in these specific 14 polling booths. The verification is currently taking place at Chintadripet under strict supervision.

Technical Verification Process

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer, G.S. Sameeran, detailed that the verification is a two-phase operation. In the first phase, the ballot units, control units, and VVPATs of two selected polling stations are being authenticated under the technical supervision of engineers from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

Ensuring the technical integrity of voting hardware is crucial to maintaining public confidence in the democratic process.

The second phase will involve a rigorous mock poll, simulating between 500 to 1,400 votes to verify the machine's authenticity. This entire exercise is scheduled to continue for seven days to ensure no stone is left unturned.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this verification process is a critical litmus test for the Election Commission's responsiveness to candidate grievances. While initial checks have shown no discrepancies in the burnt memory, the upcoming mock polls will be the ultimate decider of the machines' reliability in the eyes of the law.

Did You Know?: Candidates who secure one of the top three positions in a constituency are eligible to request the verification of up to 5% of the EVMs used in that area.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the EVM verification happening in Kolathur?
It was triggered by M.K. Stalin's allegation that votes were not properly recorded in 14 specific polling booths.

2. Who is overseeing the technical verification?
The process is being carried out by election officials with technical assistance from BHEL engineers.