Never 'promised no-holds-barred Hackathon', says EC, rejecting AAP's demand to change EVM motherboard

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday refuted the Aam Aadmi Party's allegations of a “promised no-holds-barred Hackathon” and said that replacing the EVM's motherboard would be like changing the device itself.

The poll body said the June 3 EVM challenge will be held according to the framework of existing administrative safeguards and security protocols.

The EC made the comments after AAP insisted on changing the EVM's internal circuit to demonstrate the devices can be hacked.

The Kejriwal-led party had objected to the "rules" imposed by the EC for the hackathon. It demanded that its representative be allowed to "tamper" with the EVM motherboard.

The EC maintained that changing the internal circuitry of the electronic device is like changing the device itself and turned down AAP's petition.

The Congress had also complained about the "extensive terms and conditions" imposed for the EVM test.

In a letter to the Commission, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the challengers should be allowed access to all components of an EVM, including the motherboard.

"The extensive terms and conditions that this challenge imposes prevent challengers to conduct a thorough test on the EVMs. We urge you to reconsider relaxing the three rules, as their inclusion undermines the very credibility of this initiative," said Surjewala.

"The EC must factor in the possibility that those who try to or tamper with EVMs in real life can do so without pressing the buttons on the CU or BU or do it before/after the EVMs are in the control room," he said.

The challenge follows allegations by the AAP and other opposition parties of EVM-hacking during the February-March assembly elections and the Delhi civic election to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party.