From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: The district election officer, Kamrup metro has clarified that the electronic voter machine and VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) machine used in a polling centre here on April 23, 2019, were not faulty as alleged.
In a letter to the state chief electoral officer, it was stated that upon inquiry, it was found that there was no truth in the allegation that the EVM and VVPAT machine used in Lachit Nagar LP School polling station were faulty.
“In this regard, the sector and zonal officers of that polling station visited and verified with the public and voters as to the proper and accurate functioning of the EVM and VVPAT used in the actual polling process. A mock poll was conducted in the presence of the agents of the candidates contesting the 7 Guwahati parliamentary seat as per ECI guidelines and there no complaints received in this regard,” the district election officer stated in the letter.
It may be mentioned that a former Assam director general of police had complained of the discrepancy in the ballot unit and the slip in the VVPAT after he cast his vote. “The presiding officer of that polling station rightfully requested him to go for a test vote under the provisions of Rule 49 MA of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, and also read out the provisions of the rule. In this regard the complainant refused to sign the declaration under the rule and was hence not allowed to go for the test vote,” it was stated in the letter,
The DEO also ruled out foul play on the part of the presiding officer or any polling officials.