Why repolling when we don’t want it: Bikram Singh Majithia

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

The Election Commission on Tuesday drew flak from leaders over the issue of repolling in 48 polling stations falling in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur Assembly segments following malfunctioning in the Voter-Verified Audit Paper Trail (VVPAT) and EVMs on February 4.

The repolling will take place on February 9.

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Akali candidate Bikram Singh Majithia from Majitha constituency said he was surprised that the EC had ordered repolling as most of the booths listed had recorded upto 90 per cent votes.

"I don't understand the logic behind the repolling. On poll day, we sought extension of time for voting due to a snag in the VVPAT machines. It was denied. Now after three days, the repolling has been ordered. It is a one-way communication. The EC needs to explain. None of the candidates in Majitha had sought repolling," he  said.                 

Majithia said they had said no for repolling after the EC had sought a report from the state election authorities on the malfunctioning of VVPATs, which caused delay in voting.

SAD rebel Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar, who contested as an Independent from Muktsar, said: “There is no need for repolling. When no candidate has raised any objection then why the EC has ordered repolling."

On repoll in Majitha, AAP candiadate Himmat Singh Shergill said he would start doing door to door campaign in the areas that will go to polls again.

He said: I don't want to comment on EC orders. It is done now. I don't want to waste even one minute of my door to door campaigning. I was winning the seat. The repoll will increase the victory margin."

Meanwhile, the Sangrur DC has called a meeting of officers to prepare for repolling.

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Saturday attacked the Election Commission and tweeted, "Never has any election seen malfunctioning EVMs on such a largescale. Was it mischief done deliberately by or in collusion with EC."

AAP leader Sanjay Singh had raised the matter with the Punjab CEO, demanding extension in time where polling was affected because of the VVPAT problem.