Barring a few violent incidents and malfunctioning of EVMs, the polling for elections to the 32-seat Puri Municipality passed off peacefully. The trouble with two EVMs led to tension among voters while there were allegations against some police personnel on duty that they canvassed for votes for the ruling BJD nominee in the Balinoliasahi booth in Ward-11.
Hundreds of voters staged a dharna for an hour in front of the Special Circuit House where election observer Raghunath Mohnty was staying. They alleged that an EVM was doctored as it registered only the BJD’s Conch symbol. They too alleged that some police personnel on duty there were found prompting people to cast votes in favour of the BJD nominee. They demanded stringent action against the policemen.
The observer directed a magistrate and a technical expert to examine the complaints relating to the EVM functioning and the allegations against the policemen. The polling, however, continued as per the schedule.
About 60 per cent polling was reported.
The malfunctioning of the EVM was reported from the Sechanvihar polling centre in Ward-30 and the machine was replaced after complaints.
Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahoo, City DSP Sashibhusan Satpathy and other senior police officials managed to defuse the tense situations at various polling centres.