Overview
- The State Election Commission said PADU will be deployed only in rare cases where an EVM control-unit display fails during counting.
- Officials described PADU as a small auxiliary device that connects to the ballot and control units to display results, and it does not generate paper slips like VVPAT.
- The SEC said 140 units are available and any activation will occur in the presence of Bharat Electronics Ltd technicians, with the EVMs identified as BEL M3A models.
- Opposition leaders including Raj and Uddhav Thackeray and AAP objected to the late rollout and sought SEC intervention, alleging a lack of transparency and raising fears of tampering.
- Reports conflict on the PADU manufacturer, with several citing BEL and at least one naming BHEL, while a separate SEC move allowing door-to-door outreach up to polling has further stoked criticism.