EVM issue:Delhi CM Kejriwal asks EC to release machines for investigation

While speaking to reporters, Delhi CM said: "We demand the EC release the EVMs so that it is open to scrutiny, we will investigate. Recent observations are alarming, paper ballot should be considered to replace EVMs."

Kejriwal doubted the massive victory of Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh election, as he alleged that several voting machines might have been tampered.

While Kejriwal was joined by Congress to make allegations of EVM tampering, EC rejected such allegations.

Certain baseless observations and allegations have been made by a leader of a political party today in a press conference regarding the use of EVMs. It has been alleged that EVMs as per law cannot be taken out for 45 days from the date of declaration of results but still EVMs for the bye-polls in the Madhya Pradesh were taken out and shifted from Uttar Pradesh where the results have been declared on 11th March, 2017 and hence the 45 days period is still not over, the Election Commission said in a statement.

"The Commission would like to clarify the legal position. The EVMs comprising the Control Unit (CU) and Ballot Unit (BU) used in any election shall be kept in a strong room after declaration of results and shall not be accessed by anyone till the period of filing of election petition is over. The election petition has to be filed within 45 days. However, in case of VVPAT machines, the printed paper slips have to be retrieved at the time of counting and sealed in a paper envelope and only these sealed paper slips have to be kept inside the strong room alongwith the EVMs. The VVPAT machines are not required by the law to be retained in strong room for the purpose of election petition and are available for use in any other election. However, in the on-going bye-polls only VVPAT machines which were kept in reserve and not used during the actual poll, have been redeployed," read the statement.