Pune: The EVMs and control units used in the Maval Lok Sabha elections and subsequently sealed may now be employed in the upcoming assembly elections if needed.

This development follows a recent court order permitting their use. According to the district administration, the machines, stored securely with their data intact in the Bhosari warehouse, will be accessed only if required for the assembly voting process.

Following the Maval constituency election results, a petition challenging the outcome was filed in the High Court, prompting the district election office to store the EVMs securely in Bhosari.

The district administration, therefore, originally excluded these machines when planning for the assembly election EVM requirements.

The sealed machines contain voting data from three assembly segments in Pune district and three in Raigad district, all of which were kept in Bhosari. The court's recent directive now opens these machines for use if necessary.

As per standard protocol, EVMs can be retained for up to 45 days after counting in case of objections to the election outcome. The Election Commission or the court may direct these EVMs to be kept intact, while data on all other machines is erased before returning them to the Election Commission.

Dr. Suhas Divase, District Collector, commented, "We are aware of the court's order but have not yet received the official copy. Currently, the required EVMs are available for the assembly elections. We will use these additional machines only if needed.”