ECI appoints Vinod Zutshi as Special Observer in Haryana's Assandh

With just a day left for the Haryana Assembly Election, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Vinod Zutshi as Special Observer for the ensuing elections to Assandh Assembly Constituency of Karnal district in the state in light of a video circulating on social media. In the video, the BJP candidate from Assandh is heard telling people that he had ‘fixed’ the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and would know who they had cast their vote for. The video went viral on social media on Sunday, prompting the poll body to take action.

READ | Maharashtra Polls: BJP's Mumbai Unit Chief Replies To EC Notice

Zutshi's stint at the poll body

Vinod Zutshi is a Former Deputy Election Commissioner. He is a retired Rajasthan Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer and ex-Tourism Secretary. As per a government press release, Zutshi has been requested to proceed immediately to the constituency to take necessary corrective action and ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

Zutshi has earlier worked as Chief Electoral Officer in Rajasthan. He also worked in ECI for seven years in various capacities and was deputed as Special Observer to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tripura during the recent Lok Sabha elections in April 2019.

READ | Maharashtra Polls: Election Commission Seizes Rs. 4 Cr Cash From Worli

Notice served to BJP candidate boasting EVM rigging

Meanwhile, the Election Commission served a notice to Bakshish Singh Virk over the viral video on Sunday. In the video, he was seen claiming that the EVMs were rigged in a manner that every vote would go to the BJP irrespective of the button voters press. “The video came to my notice and I have served a notice to BJP candidate to give his reply,” said District Election Officer Vinay Pratap Singh.

READ | Maharashtra Elections: A Group Composes Rap To Spread Voting Awareness

The Congress candidate from Assandh Shamsher Singh Gogi demanded strict action against his opponent Bakshish Singh Virk from the Election Commission. “The Election Commission should take it seriously as Virk is claiming it publicly that they have set the EVMs. Legal action should be taken against him, besides annulling his candidature,” said Gogi.

READ | Sikkim Bypoll: SDF Moves Election Commission Seeking Deferment