"Investigate Role Of TCS In 'Vote Chori': Former MP TN Prathapan
Kerala: In an exclusive conversation with Timeline, former MP and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Political Affairs Committee member T N Prathapan has leveled serious allegations against Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) regarding the software it developed for managing electoral rolls.
Prathapan claims that the TCS software added illegal, unauthorized votes to the final voter list for Thrissur. He stated that he would retract his claim if the Election Commission (EC) could prove him wrong.
The Congress leader confirmed that he has filed a complaint with the City Police Commissioner, urging for a criminal case to be registered and for the relevant documents to be seized. He is currently in the process of gathering evidence to support his allegations.
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It is a difficult task, Congress leader added, since the EC has restricted access to information following electoral malpractice allegations raised by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“A higher-level inquiry is needed,” Prathapan stressed. “A judicial probe with a sitting judge is needed. This is a very serious matter.”
Votes being added to the Thrissur district voter list without authorisation, Congress leader alleged. He questions the roles of the private firm and higher level election officers.
The former MP stated that he would withdraw his complaint once the EC and TCS provide clarification. He expressed strong doubts about the EC’s conduct and impartiality, alleging that the body of aligning with the BJP’s agenda.
“The Election Commission stands as the ‘super president’ to the BJP national president. The poll body has become the ‘A Team’ of the BJP,” Prathapan further added.
The public’s trust in the institution has been lost, Congress leader said.
He also noted that the EC remained silent for nearly seven days after Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations, and the following press conference was “one-sided.” He stressed that the poll body has a responsibility to prove its integrity.
