PUNE: “Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) cannot be tampered or hacked,” said JS Saharia, State Election Commissioner, Maharashtra on Tuesday. 

He was delivering a public lecture on ‘Deepening of Grassroots Democracy: Role of State Election Commission’ at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics.

“We did an experiment in elections in Nanded Municipal Corporation and after that, everybody felt there was no need for VVPAT as it does not add any value to the results,” he said. “Secondly, it is an electronic equipment and doubts can be raised anytime. Already there are quarters that have started questioning VVPAT. So we cannot solve the so-called problem by adding another problem,” he added.

In the lecture, he said grassroot democracy can be deepened only if the local body and its election get due importance.  He said the local body should be empowered and awareness created among masses regarding these election with involvement of all stakeholders. 

He added, “Local bodies must be able to take a decision on their own for local people. They should not be at the mercy of the State government. This change can only come by the involvement of State government, civil society and other stakeholders.

Retired administrator Dr PR Dubhashi, Officiating Director of Gokhale Institute Rajas Parchure, Professor Manasi Phadke were also present.