SHILLONG: The Assembly elections process on Tuesday did faced many hurdles and hiccups thanks to a large number of EVMs malfunctioning in different parts of the state.
In several polling stations, the poll process started late due to technical glitches in the EVMs and right from morning, reports of malfunctioned EVMs were coming from different polling stations spread across the city and the state.
Speaking to media persons on Tuesday after the elections, Chief Electoral Officer, FR Kharkongor said that there were 28 ballot units which malfunctioned ( 0.93 percent), 28 Controlling Units (0.93 percent) and 88 VVPATs ( 2.91 percent).
The common reasons for EVM failures according to election department are linking error where interlinking of cables between control and ballot unit led to some confusion among some polling officers besides loose connection in some units was also a factor for the malfunctioning of some EVMs units.
According to Kharkongor, some EVMs malfunctioned due to low battery which led to delay in some polling stations even as he added that there is a new direction from the Election Commission under which the entire set has to be changed if there is a malfunction with the ballot unit.
Meanwhile, there was a case of re-polling in a polling station in Kyntong Tuber where the ballot unit and control unit malfunctioned two three times after which BL engineers and polling officers mixed up the EVM.
“Instead of brining EVMs which was supposed to come for Kyntong Tuber in Raliang constituency , they brought the Controlling unit and Ballot unit of Mowkaiaw and the polling was stopped.,” Kharkongor said.
The State Election department will receive a report from the Deputy Commissioner and the matter will be sent to the Election Commission for a final word on re-polling
Earlier , there were rumours that the polling was cancelled in the polling station following manipulation but the CEO denied such rumours.
