EC orders repoll at 123 snag-hit booths

Voters arrive to cast their vote at a polling station at Kairana on Monday

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced fresh polling at 73 booths in Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana, 49 in Maharashtra’s Bhandara-Gondia and one polling station in Nagaland parliament constituency, after a large number of VVPAT machines developed glitches during the byelections on Monday.

The repoll, for which notifications have been issued in Lucknow, Mumbai and Kohima, will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Collector shifted

The EC has also transferred the Gondia Collector for alleged dereliction of duty. A new Collector has assumed charge. According to the EC, 96 Ballot and 84 Control Units of EVMs, besides 1,202 VVPAT machines, had to be replaced during the byelections. “It amounts to 0.76% of the Ballot Units, 0.81% Control Units and 11.60% of total VVPATs,” an official had said. 

The highest of 20.82% VVPATs were replaced in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency, while it was 19.22% in the Bhandara-Gondia and 13.16% in Palghar Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra. In West Bengal’s Maheshtala, 12.37% VVPATs were replaced and it was just over 11% in Punjab’s Shahkot.

Following reports of malfunctioning of VVPATs, the Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh lodged complaints with the EC.

The highest of 20.82% VVPATs were replaced in Kairana parliamentary constituency, while the number was 19.22% in the Bhandara-Gondia and 13.16% in Palghar Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra. 

In West Bengal’s Maheshtala, 12.37% VVPATs were replaced and it was just over 11% in Punjab’s Shahkot.

Following reports of “large-scale” malfunctioning of VVPATs, the Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh lodged complaints with the EC. A BJP delegation also met the electoral body. 

While former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav wanted ballot papers to be brought back, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party leaders in Maharashtra voiced concerns about the snags.