The Election Commission on Friday has suspended four officials including the Presiding officer and ordered fresh voting in one polling station of Assam's Ratabari seat following a controversy over officials transporting an electronic voting machine (EVM) in a BJP candidate's car yesterday. The incident had led to violence in Karimganj district where the seat is located. The car in which the EVM machine was transported belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul, a BJP contestant in nearby Patharkandi. Top opposition leaders today cited this to allege election malpractices by the ruling BJP.
The second phase of polling took place in Assam yesterday, recording over 77 per cent turnout and a few instances of violence. One of the incidents was in Karimganj and the video of the disturbance is surfacing on social media.
Issuing a statement, the Election Commission said that on the examination, the polled EVM consisting of BU, CU and VVPAT was found to be intact with its seal sans any damage, adding that all the items have been deposited in the strong room. "Although the seals of the EVM were found intact, it has nevertheless been decided to do a re-poll at No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution. A report has also been sought from the Special Observer," the statement read.
At around 9.20 pm, however, the staff took a lift in the private car without checking its ownership, the poll panel's release said today. Krishnendu Paul's electoral affidavit confirms that his wife, Madhumita Paul, owned the vehicle (registration number: AS10B0022). As the car approached the locality where the strong room is situated by around 10 pm, supporters of the opposition about 50 of them, mobbed the vehicle and along with the driver; the police staff ran off the place for safety. They pelted stones at the vehicle and abused the passengers.
The EVM machine was found in a contesting candidate's car as the vehicle allotted to the polling party consisting of the Presiding Officer and 3 police staff broke down while travelling to Karimganj from the remote areas of the state after the polls ended on Thursday. Heavy traffic jam and bad weather caused the detachment of the vehicle from its convoy. Informing the sector officer about the incident the polling party tried arranging another vehicle themselves to reach the Material Receipt Centre faster as they were in the possession of the polled EVMs.
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The district administration then approached the police station to dispel the crowd to safeguard the vehicle, the EVM, and the polling personnel, officials said.
A search operation was conducted overnight to find the missing polling officer who was hiding in the undergrowth nearby.
On Thursday, Assam underwent polling for the second time for 39 constituencies across 13 districts. 74.76 voter turnout was witnessed by the state in the second phase of polling.