Election Commission orders repolling in 48 Punjab polling stations on Feb 9

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 7                   

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced repolling in 48 polling stations falling in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur assembly segments in Punjab. It will be held on February 9, Thursday.

At many polling stations, the VVPATs and EVMs had reportedly developed a snag.

The repolling will be held at 16 polling stations for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat.

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

As far as Assembly seats are concerned, it will be held at 12 polling stations in Majitha, one in Moga, nine in Muktsar, four in Sardulgarh and six polling stations in Sangrur.

The repolling will be held from 8 am to 5 pm.

The EC order said the repolling would uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

The Election Commission said that at some places polling was interrupted as VVPAT machines and EVMs had malfunctioned. Of 24,697 Ballot Units and 24,256 Control Units used in Punjab 180 BUs and 184 CUs failed during the poll, the EC added.

The Election Commission had even sought a report from the state election authorities about the malfunctioning of VVPATs which caused delayed in voting.

After VVPATs developed snag, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister had attacked the Election Commission and tweeted, "Never has any election seen malfunctioning EVMs on such a large scale. Was it mischief done deliberately by or in collusion with EC?"

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

Voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) generates a receipt and allow people to verify if the vote went in favour of the candidate against whose name the button was pressed on the EVM. — With agency inputs