Several polling stations across Punjab witnessed delay on the polling day on Wednesday with the Election Commission installing decade-old electronic voting machines at some places.
A total of 400 EVMs were replaced after technical glitches were reported in during the polling process at many places. The defaulted EVMs led to delay in starting of polling process at many booths, while at many others, flaws occurred in the middle of the voting.
“Total 400 EVMs were replaced, out of which 300 were replaced during the morning hours as it could not work, and later, 100 more were replaced during the day,” said Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh. A total of 33,000 EVMs have been arranged for the state, with enough in reserve so that any mishap can be dealt with appropriately. “The EVMs are 10-year-old...we were apprehending that these would not work, but thanks to God that is working and the polling is going on smoothly. There were initial glitches that were dealt with effectively,” Singh told The Pioneer.
9 Akalis, 2 cops restricted
After restricting the movement of Youth Akali chief and State Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia to his constituency, Majitha, only, the Election Commission imposed same orders on nine Akali leaders, and two Punjab police cops in Gurdaspur and Bathinda respectively.
Acting on the complaint of Congress’ Gurdaspur MP and party candidate Partap Singh Bajwa, the movements of former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Nirmal Singh Kahlon were restricted to his village along with former ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Sucha Singh langah and his son.
Sitting Gurdaspur MlA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Gurbachan Singh Babbehali and his son were also ordered to be restricted to their assembly segments only. Besides, former MlA lakhbir Singh lodhinangal, along with his son, has been asked to restrict their movement to their village alone. On the other hand, AIG (intelligence) Sukhdev Singh Kahlon, and SP Chief Minister’s security Joginder Singh were also restricted following a complaint was made by Congress-People’s party of Punjab combine candidate Manpreet Badal. “Their movement was kept under 24-hour video surveillance,” Singh told The Pioneer.
SAD workers break EVM
Patiala: Some Akali workers clashed with the polling staff and smashed the EVM by putting it on the ground at Patiala’s polling booth no 162. The polling station falls in ward no 18 of Patiala rural assembly segment.
“An FIR has been registered in this matter. Three persons entered the polling station and inquired about the number of votes polled. After they got to know about the number, they tossed the machine in air which broke after it fell on the ground…two of them have been arrested in the matter,” said the CEO.
AAP’s Dr Gandhi slapped
Patiala: AAP candidate from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi was attacked by SAD-BJP workers at Rassolpura Saidan village in Patiala parliamentary constituency. Dr Gandhi has received injuries on his nose and mouth in the attack. An FIR has been registered against local councillor Rajinder Virk,” said VK Singh. Sources informed that 20-25 unidentified youngsters, allegedly supporters of SAD-BJP councillor from ward number 12 Rajinder Singh Virk, attacked Dr Gandhi while he was touring across the area to oversee the voting process.
Earlier in the day, Virk had also allegedly slapped AAP’s polling agent while the latter accused him of casting bogus votes. AAP activists too came to blow with the assailants after the attack.
Four FIRs registered
A total of four FIRs of minor skirmishes were registered during Wednesday polling. The number was low as compared to 44 FIRs registered during 2009 lok Sabha elections.
Giving the details of incidents, CEO Singh said: “At the first incident in polling station 162 of Patiala Rural (Tripari), few people entered polling station and threw control unit of EVM on ground that damaged the unit partially. He said that two people have been arrested and FIR has been registered against guilty people. Polling was continued with new machine and efforts would be made to retrieve data from old machine.”
He added that at Rasoolpur village of Patiala AAP’s Dr Dharamvira Gandhi was attacked by some political opponents and police has registered an FIR in this matter.
“Another incident happened in Gallowal Hargobindpur village of Batala Sub-Division where a fight broke out between supporters of two political parties. And in third incident in Ferozepur constituency, FIR under 131, 132 of the Indian Penal Code of Representation of Peoples Act was registered for disorderly conduct of some individuals in the polling station,” he added.
Singh said that the fourth FIR was registered in the same constituency under 171 of the IPC for “undue influence to voters”. “In an unrelated incident at Cheecha village near village Rampura of Assembly Constituency Attari a service weapon of security personnel was fired accidentally in which nobody was injured. Also, a fight broke out between supporters of two political parties at Kartarpur Jalandhar Parliamentary Constituency. An FIR has been registered in this matter,” he added.
Re-poll possible
Answering to query regarding any prospects of re-poll in any polling booth, Singh said that there could be repoll in two to three polling booths due to various EVM problems depending upon the reports of Retuning Officers and Observers.
“Polling station 162 of Patiala Rural could be one where EVM was broken. The observers will visit and see and report to the central poll panel. And it is on the Election Commission of India to take a call on the repelling,” said Singh.