Voting was delayed in several booths as electronic voting machines (EVMs) failed to function in as many as 20 to 22 polling centres in Raipur lok Sabha constituency including Raipur city during the morning hours.
As a result, many dejected electorates had to return home without voting. Some people were seen waiting for hours in scorching heat for their turn to vote. The voting started after the machines were repaired or replaced, eyewitnesses said. Officials were unable to give reasonable explanation why voting machines did not work.
Voters were found to be enthusiastic in exercising their franchise in Raipur city since the morning hours. Even some men and women reached to the polling centres with their children. Youth and new electorate also reached to the polling centres with spontaneous enthusiasm.
Several voters returned home after they stood in a queue at Tiwari school polling booth for about an hour since 7 am as the EVM did not work until 8 am. Many people were also seen waiting patiently in scorching heat at the polling centres.
The voters cast their vote at the Tiwari School polling centre after the machine was repaired. Presiding Officer of the polling centre Ashok Kumar Dhidhi said the EVM stopped working at 6.20 am. The voting was started after it was repaired at 8.40 am.
Similarly, the EVM at Sakharam School polling booth also did not work. Voting started in this booth after the machine was repaired at 8.40 am, he said.
The EVM at Mayaram Surjan school in Choubey colony remained non functional for about half-an-hour. This booth has 1,218 registered voters. But only 127 electorates exercised their franchise by 9 am.The Presiding Officer of the polling centre R N, Tamrakar said the EVM suddenly stopped functioning at 6.28 am for some time. As a result, voting was affected.