EC takes repoll route to pre-empt litigation

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

The Election Commission’s (EC’s) decision to conduct repoll at 46 polling stations in Sangrur, Majitha and Muktsar Assembly segments has surprised candidates, considering that fresh polling was neither demanded by any major political party nor recommended by the returning officers (ROs) or independent election observers.

The observers had recommended repoll only for one polling station each in Moga and Sardulgarh Assembly segments.

During a meeting that continued till late last evening, top EC officials had deliberations with officials from Punjab on repoll in five Assembly segments, including the three where Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) EVMs developed snags, leading to a delay in voting at several polling stations.

Sources privy to the meeting told The Tribune that the EC had taken the decision in view of the inconvenience caused to voters on polling day and the apprehension of facing litigation after the poll result on March 11.

“It is true that neither any candidate nor ROs of these segments wanted repoll. But the Commission pre-empted legal trouble in case the victory margin turned out to be narrow. Losers could have easily challenged the election on the ground that the VVPATs were found defective on polling day. The EC wanted to avoid this hassle,” said an officer who attended yesterday’s meeting.

“Moreover, voters had to wait for 2-3 hours at some polling stations. Seeing the long queues, some of them might have returned home without casting their vote. Hence, EC officials opted for repoll at such polling stations,” the officer added.

The matter of faulty VVPAT machines was also discussed at the meeting. It was highlighted by the officials that machines developed snags minutes after the start of voting at most of these polling stations.

However, at a few polling stations, the surplus stock of machines was exhausted even before voting began. In both cases, machines were replaced with conventional EVMs.

The officer added: “There were three scenarios: One, some of the votes were polled in VVPATs and the rest in conventional EVMs. Two, all votes were polled in EVMs. Three, in Majitha and Amritsar (North) constituencies, where votes were also polled for the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll, some of the VVPATs didn’t work. There should be uniformity in the conduct of the polls. Hence, the Commission decided to have repoll with only one type of machine (VVPAT) at these polling stations.”

Another reason that made the EC opt for VVPATs again is their high success rate. Of the 6,668 machines used, only 187 (about 2.5 per cent) were replaced during polling.

48 polling stations to witness fresh voting

Amritsar Lok Sabha seat (16)

Govt Elementary School, Mehandipur; Govt Elementary School, Johal; Govt Senior Secondary School, Wadala Veeram; Janj Ghar, Rori, FGC Road, Majitha; PSPCL, Majitha (left and right wings); Kesra Devi Arya Girl School, Majitha; Baba Hardyal Singh Memorial Child Learn School, Galowali Kullian; Govt Elementary School, Marari Kalan; Govt Elementary School, Gujjarpura; Govt Sr Secondary School, Nag Kalan; Govt Elementary School, Kotla Saida; Govt Elementary School, Fatubheela; Govt Elementary School, Rupowali Kalan; Govt Elementary School, Manga Sarai; and Govt Elementary School, Panwa

Majitha Assembly seat (12)

Govt Elementary School, Johal; Janj Ghar, Rori, EGC Road, Majitha; PSPCL, Majitha (left and right wings); Kesra Devi Arya Girl School, Majitha; Govt Elementary School, Marai Kalan; Govt Elementary School, Marari Kalan; Govt Elementary School, Haria; Govt Elementary School, Kotla Saida; Govt Elementary School, Hride Ram; Govt Elementary School, Babowal; and Govt Elementary School, Panwa

Muktsar Assembly seat (9)

Govt Elementary School, Kaniawali (right wing); Govt Elementary School, Jandoke (left and right wings); Govt Elementary School, Wattu; Govt Elementary School, Virvian Wali (right wing); Govt Elementary School, Burhagujjar (left wing); Govt Elementary School, Bala Madahar; Govt Primary School (near Nagar Panchayat office) Bariwala (left side); and YS Public School, Thandewala

Sangrur Assembly constituency (9)

Improvement Trust, Kaula Park, Sangrur; Govt Ranbir College, Sangrur; GPS, Ghabdan; Government Elementary School, Santokhpura; Govt Elementary School, Nandgarh; Govt Elementary School, Gehlan; Govt Elementary School, Dialgarh; Govt Elementary School, Aloarkh; and GSSS, Nidampur

Moga Assembly seat (1)

Govt Primary School, Mohalla Sodhia, Moga

Sardulgarh constituency (1)

Korewala