Palamau, nevertheless, yielded a blood less election this time but failed to put the district administration beyond any doubt. Following the scuffle between BJP and Congress supporters, latest in line was the glitch some of the EVMs caught.
As many as a dozen EVMs of Panki Assembly constituency failed to open on counting day that created a hue and cry among political and administrative circles. Sources said the moment the news emanated from the counting centre that some EVMs were not opening and the counting of votes of the Assembly constituency had halted for some time many eye brows were raised.
The chance that these EVMs showed stubbornness in opening took place at the fag end of the counting and the sun had set in giving more speculations of all hues to fill the air here. All attempts to connect to the district election officer cum DC KN Jha went in vain. Finally, it was the Divisional Commissioner NK Mishra who informed some problem did arise and every thing has been sorted out as well.
Official sources said the issue was effectively handled at the counting centre but the damage to management at the counting centre had been done. The administration had came under question when some bikers led by BJP candidate from Daltonganj Manoj K Singh scuffled with the DC following the FIRs being filed. Popular perception remained that the incident could have been avoided.
However the moot point is whether these two chance spurred events were handled dispassionatelyIJ