NEW DELHI: Opposition parties and the ruling BJP today moved the Election Commission claiming “hundreds” of EVMs and paper trail machines deployed for Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly bypolls developed snags and were not replaced for hours.
But the Election Commission termed as “exaggerated projection of reality” reports of ‘large scale’ failure of EVMs during Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and said adequate number of reserve machines are provided for any eventuality.
Sources in the poll panel did say that inapt handling of VVPAT machines by the ground staff, especially when the temperature is high, could have to led to their heating, which results malfunctioning.
SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh along with others met top EC officials claiming that the faulty EVMs were not replaced in time.
The leaders demanded that repoll should be announced in polling stations where EVMs were not replaced for over one-and-a-half hours. At polling stations where EVMs were replaced within one-and-a-half hours, additional time should be granted to voters to exercise their franchise, they told reporters after meeting the EC. (AGENCIES)
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