Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge supports Rahul Gandhi’s call for transparency, urging the Election Commission to allow a court-supervised ethical hackathon and audit of EVMs. He highlights Karnataka’s strong tech ecosystem ready to ensure electoral integrity.
Bengaluru: Today, on June 09, Karnataka’s IT and Biotechnology Minister, Priyank Kharge, has made a strong appeal to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to allow a court-supervised ethical hackathon and a detailed technical audit of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
He has offered the support of Karnataka’s advanced technology ecosystem for this purpose. Kharge expressed his support for the ongoing campaign led by AICC leader Rahul Gandhi, which demands full disclosure of election-related data from recent polls.
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In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge explained that back in December 2024, he had proposed a “court monitored ethical hackathon” and a “rigorous technical audit of EVMs” which would involve top academic institutions and well-known private technology research and development organizations.
He emphasized the strength of Karnataka’s technology sector, saying,
“Karnataka is home to the world’s fourth largest technology cluster and our ecosystem is well-positioned to examine the entire EVM architecture, from hardware and software to vote recording and counting, under judicial and academic oversight.”
Kharge highlighted the importance of this proposal amid the ongoing discussions about electoral integrity, especially after Rahul Gandhi raised serious concerns following the Maharashtra elections.
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He shared the details of his formal communication to the Election Commission, saying,
“In my letter dated December 3, 2024, to the Commissioner, I had detailed several concerning instances, from mismatched vote counts and inconsistencies in electoral rolls to unusual turnout percentages, missing EVMs and vulnerabilities in VVPATs and control units. I also flagged procedural gaps that raise serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.”
Despite raising these critical points, Kharge expressed disappointment that the Election Commission has not yet responded to his proposal.
He urged the Commission to act quickly, stating,
“I urge the Commission to act with urgency and allow the audit we have offered in good faith.”
This development reflects the growing demand from political leaders and technology experts for transparent and trustworthy elections in India.
The call for a court-supervised ethical hackathon and technical audit aims to ensure the security and reliability of EVMs, which are a crucial part of the electoral process.
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