NEW DELHI: The first phase of the high-pitched electoral battle in Gujarat witnessed a high turnout of 68 per cent, but was marred by complaints and controversies about the malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The complaint which grabbed the maximum attention on social media was by senior state Congress leader and its Porbandar candidate Arjun Modhwadia, who alleged that EVMs were getting connected to mobile phones through bluetooth technology. However, senior deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha asserted that it was completely baseless.
However, senior deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha asserted that it was completely baseless. Explaining further, deputy election commissioner Sudeep Jain said, “A team was sent and after investigation, it was found to be a false alarm… There is no receptor in EVMs and there is not any wired connection to the device…” Jain, however, admitted there were many complaints about technical glitches and all machines were accordingly replaced immediately.
He said a total of 714 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) machines, 181 ballot units and 223 control units were replaced. The Election Commission (EC) used 27,158 EVMs with VVPATs at 24,689 polling stations in the first phase. The fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and Modhwadia, among others, is now sealed in the EVMs. Earlier, reacting to Congress leaders’ allegations of EVM tampering, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “The Congress is searching for an excuse even before the results are out as it stares at a loss... They are trying to hide behind EVMs.”
Allegations of EVM tampering also surfaced at Surat, Jetpur and Navsari. Officials said the EC has ordered a probe.
Commenting on the high voting percentage, Congress communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala said it reflected that the state was ready for a change. “We are confident we will form the government,” he said. On Saturday, polling was held for the 89 Assembly seats in 19 districts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat, with over 2.123 crore registered voters. A total 977 contestants, including 58 women, were in the fray. The BJP and the Congress fielded 89 and 86 candidates, respectively, while there were 442 independent candidates. Phase I of the elections in Gujarat is being considered crucial following the high-octane campaigning by the Congress and Hardik Patel. The BJP too left no stone unturned with the Prime Minister himself addressing 17 rallies.
The Election Commission (EC) used 27,158 EVMs with VVPATs at 24,689 polling stations in the first phase.
Fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and Modhwadia, among others, is now sealed in EVMs.
Earlier, reacting to Congress leaders’ allegations of EVMs tampering, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “The Congress is searching for an excuse even before the results are out as it stares at a loss in the elections. They are trying to hide behind the EVMs.”
Allegations of EVM tampering also surfaced at Surat, Jetpur and Navsari. Officials said the Election Commission has ordered a probe.
On Saturday, polling was held for the 89 assembly seats in 19 districts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat, having over 2.123 crore registered voters.
A total 977 contestants, including 58 women, were in the fray. The BJP and the Congress fielded 89 and 86 candidates, respectively, while there were 442 independent candidates. Phase I of elections in Gujarat is being considered crucial following the high-octane campaigning.
0 votes in village due to water woes
Zero voting was recorded at Gajadi village in Morbi district as the 1,000 registered voters, fed up with water shortage, boycotted polling. “When we told them there are plans to lay a new pipeline, villagers asked us to give the assurance on paper,” said the Collector.
397 ‘crorepati’ candidates in fray
As many as 397 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the Gujarat Assembly elections, an analysis of election affidavits by two NGOs has found. Of these 397, as many as 131 candidates have declared assets worth over J5 crore. Of the 1,828 contestants, only 118 are women.