Over 2,000 voters in polling station numbers 311, 312, 313 and 314 allotted to a private school in Old Alwal were left fretting and fuming as the polling station was shifted to another place without notice.
The polling station located in Loyola High School in Father Balaiah Nagar of Old Alwal in Malkajgiri Assembly constituency had four booths as per the original allotment. But, to the surprise of voters, the school was found locked on Friday morning with none to guide them. While the school is said to have been shut down for over two years, the authorities had allotted four polling stations. After much chaos, the voters were asked to approach Loyola Academy Degree and PG College, located a good two kms away.
On reaching the place, they were told that only two booths 311 and 312 were located there while 313, 314 and 314 A, were moved to St Pious High School in Alwal Hills, 3 kms from the actual polling station.
Venkatachari, a resident of Mangapuram Colony, seemed agitated as he first reached Loyola School, then Loyola Academy and finally headed to St Pious High School only to find the EVM was not functioning. “We are running from one place to another with none to guide us,” he lamented as another senior citizen, Rajesh, of Father Balaiah Nagar said the printed voter information on the CEO Telangana and Election Commission website still showed the old polling station.
“There are a large number of people waiting outside the old school not knowing where to go,” said Rohit, a techie, who had gone to Loyola School to vote.
Venkatesh, the polling agent of the Telangana Jana Samiti for booth number 314, was clueless. “I waited outside Loyola High School station only to realise later that the station had been shifted,” he said.
At polling booth 314, the situation was chaotic when voters were told the EVM was not working. “We have alerted the higher authorities to replace the EVM. It has to come from Bhavan’s Degree College, Sainikpuri,” presiding officer of the booth, Ramakanth, told The Hindu . Subsequently, polling began around 9. 15 am.
Polling was normal at booth number 311, 312 and 313 as voters, both men and women, queued up from 7 a.m. onwards. There was tight security outside the stations and vehicles were not allowed anywhere near them.
