Congress, SP, RLD, BJP Knock Election Commission’s Doors Over EVM Glitches In By-Polls

As voters were left in the lurch following glitches in VVPAT electronic voting machines (EVM) in several polling stations across the country, a joint delegation of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party and the Congress and a separate delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party met the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday.

The EC assured all the parties that necessary action will be taken. The commission added that the concerns related to VVPAT have been verified on the ground and appropriate actions have been taken by the district election teams.

The commission is also waiting for reports from Returning officer (RO), District Election Officer (DEO), and observers before taking any steps further.

By-polls to four Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly constituencies in 10 states were held today. The election in 35 polling stations was cancelled in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha by-poll, Maharashtra due to EVM-related issues. 

Earlier in the day, Tabassum Hasan, who is contesting the Kairana Lok Sabha by-election in Uttar Pradesh on an RLD ticket and is supported by four other Opposition parties also wrote a letter to the Election Commission. She alleged that there were “continuous complaints” of EVM and VVPAT machines not working in most polling booths.