Rodents sneaking into the heavily guarded strongroom where EVMs are kept are giving sleepless nights to district authorities which have now resorted to using rat poison to keep away the pests from a nearby wholesale wheat market. The elections were held on April 10 in this high-profile constituency where BJP’s VK Singh, AAP candidate Shazia Ilmi and Congress’ Raj Babbar were among 15 candidates in the fray. Officials said rat poisons are being used as the area has a large number of rats.
Authorities fear that the rodents may harm the machines, cut their wires and electronic circuits and nibble the buttons. District Magistrate SVS Ranga Rao has issued an order in this regard and asked electoral officials to ensure that EVMs are protected from rats. “I have directed concerned officials to use 25 packets of rat killer for every room so that rats could not harm EVMs,” said Rao. Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 16.A large number of personnel from Paramilitary Armed Constabulary and local police have been guarding the strong rooms round-the-clock. “The EVMs have been kept in wheat wholesale market. So we are using the rat killers to protect them,” Rao said.
