The Opposition as well as the BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission (EC), claiming “hundreds” of EVMs and paper trail machines deployed for by-elections in various Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra developed snags, and were not replaced for hours.
Opposition parties approached the EC, demanding repoll in “hundreds of booths” in Kairana and Palghar. But the EC termed as “exaggerated projection of reality” reports of ‘large scale’ failure of EVMs, and said adequate number of reserve machines are provided for any eventuality.
EC sources, however, did say that inapt handling of VVPAT machines by the ground staff, especially when the temperature was high, could have to led to their heating, resulting in malfunctioning. An official said those who skipped training programmes and “spent time on their phones during training sessions” placed the machines at spots where the ‘heat sensitive’ nature of the device created problems.
A delegation of Congress leader RPN Singh, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD supremo Ajit Singh met the poll officials and demanded that repoll be held in booths were EVMs did not function for more than an hour. “The Commission assured them (political parties) that all necessary action will be taken on issues raised,” the EC said in a statement later.
Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma said his government has asked the panel to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. “The Opposition’s allegations are baseless, and, sensing their defeat, they have started playing gimmicks and talking things which are untrue. As far as EVMs are concerned, I am also getting complaints, and the EC will look into it,” he said.
Bedsheets, cloth and fans were used to protect the EVMs from extreme heat, harsh sunlight and dust, said Palghar Collector Prashant Narnaware. Against a permissible error margin of 15 per cent, Palghar saw lower than 10 per cent, he said, but admitted that it affected the voting percentages.
The Opposition alleged that poll officials “took their own time” in replacing EVMs in rural areas, the base of their voters. The machines were, however, replaced with alacrity in urban areas.
A BJP delegation informed the EC that EVM machines were dysfunctional for a long period in 197 booths in Kairana and Noorpur.
53% polling in RR Nagar
Meanwhile, the EC said the Raja Rajeshwari (RR) Nagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru recorded about 53 per cent polling.
Polling across the constituency of 4.7 lakh voters was by and large peaceful, with one or two glitches in a few EVMs. The election had been postponed from May 12 to May 28 due to alleged large-scale electoral malpractices.
Fourteen candidates including sitting Congress MLA Munirathna are in the fray. The votes will ne counted on May 31.
54% polling in Kairana
Over 54 per cent polling was recorded in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency while 61 per cent votes were cast in the Noorpur Assembly constituency. The Kairana by-poll, rigorously fought by the parties, was necessitated by the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh in February.