Fact Check: Viral Video Alleges BJP Involvement In EVM Transport In UP's Jaunpur

A section of netizens are sharing video clips of a mini truck with EVMs claiming that it was caught by the Samajwadi Party workers in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on May 25.

In the viral video, there are people who have surrounded a truck as they engage with in a heated verbal exchange with the cops.

"After the completion of elections in Jaunpur, these EVM machines were brought illegally to be deposited in the strong room. These illegal machines can be mixed with the correct machines, so the administration should take cognizance of this matter and take immediate action," one user said on X.

Many have targeted the ruling BJP for tampering with the EVMs to achieve its dream of winning 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. There was claims that the BJP worker was driving the mini truck.

The UP Congress wasted no opportunity to corner the BJP and accused the ruling party of hatching a conspiracy to win the polls.

"They were illegally taking about 150 EVMs in a DCM truck to the strong room built in Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University with the help of the administration. Due to the alertness of the India Alliance candidate and his supporters, he was caught red-handed.

@ECISVEEP @ceoup Can we still expect fair elections from you? The District Magistrate of Jaunpur is now giving new arguments to hide this, which are being denied by his facial expressions themselves. BJP wants to crush democracy and bring in dictatorship, that is why it is making such undemocratic efforts to change public opinion."

What's the truth?

However, the District Officer and other senior officials reached the spot, took charge of the situation and clarified the circumstances related to this matter.

District election officer Ravindra Kumar Mander said, "On 25-05-24, the Tehsildar of Machhlishahr was on his way back from Purvanchal University road, transporting unused EVM machines reserved for the Mungarabadshahpur Assembly constituency to the EVM warehouse in the Collectorate from the ARO office in Mungarabadshahpur, using a mini truck.

However, due to heavy traffic, he diverted to the university campus to request police security, which was opposed by the SP candidate and their supporters. Following this, he was provided with the list of reserve EVM machines and verified it against the one given earlier, ensuring its accuracy. Subsequently, the truck carrying the reserve EVMs was dispatched to the Collectorate, where the machines were safely stored in the EVM warehouse. During a media briefing, the Tehsildar provided comprehensive details of the incident. Notably, the entire process was conducted in the presence of the SP candidate."

In a follow post on X, he said that the investigation was done by the representative of Samajwadi Party candidate Babu Singh Kushwaha in his presence. "The EVM was matched with the list available with him and was found to be correct. And it is also mentioned in the video that he is satisfied with the investigation," he concluded.