VVPAT machines let poll panel down on D-Day

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 4

The newly introduced Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) EVMs turned out to be headache for the Election Commission of India (EC) on polling day as at least 725 such machines -- installed in 33 Assembly segments -- developed a snag, delaying voting in at least 45 polling stations.

Returning officers (RO) of several Assembly segments made SOS calls to the EC before noon as the entire surplus stock of VVPAT EVMs was exhausted by 1:30 pm in at least four assembly segments -- Jalandhar Cantonment, Muktsar, Rupnagar and Sangrur.

Only one machine was left in surplus in Majitha constituency and three in Lehra. Thirty-eight machines were replaced in Majitha and 39 in Rupnagar.

Polling was delayed in 25 polling stations in Majitha and 10 each in Sangrur and Muktsar.

While the EC had to replace187 such machines after the beginning of polling at 8 am, 538 VVPAT EVMs developed a snag even before voting began and had to be replaced during “mock polling” sessions.

Mock polling is conducted by the polling staff in the presence of representatives of all political parties during which dummy votes are polled to check the machines.

As reports of snags started pouring in this morning, state elections officials sought permission from the EC to replace the defective VVPAT EVMs machines with conventional EVMs.

“Around 400 VVPATs were replaced with simple EVMs, mostly in Majitha, Muktsar, Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda (Rural) seats. Polling was delayed at 45 polling stations,” said VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.

Akali candidate Bikram Singh Majithia criticised the EC for the technical glitches in the machines installed in Majitha segment. AAP leader Sanjay Singh met VK Singh around an hour before the culmination of polling, demanding that polling time should be increased by at least one hour in those segments where VVPATs are installed.

However, no extension was allowed.

“In Goa, polling start at 7 am, where in Punjab, the EC scheduled it at 8 am. This is discrimination with Punjabis,” he said after meeting the CEO.

My rivals, be it Parkash Singh Badal or former Army chief Gen JJ Singh (retd), will face a humiliating defeat. I have got reports from all parts of the state. We are winning. — Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Congress chief 

We will win at least 85 seats. People are aware that AAP is encouraging radical elements, while the Congress has always discriminated against Punjab. — Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister 

People of the state deserve credit for being part of a revolution for building a new Punjab. This election will strengthen the public’s faith in democracy. — Arvind Kejriwal, AAP convener

I appreciate the tolerance, dignity and patience with which voters conducted themselves. I also congratulate the EC, security agencies and other government departments for their hard work. — Vijay Sampla, State BJP chief