Three days after the Assembly elections concluded in Punjab, Election Commission on Tuesday ordered re-polling in 48 booths in Parliamentary and Assembly segments in five districts of the state.
The re-poll will be held from 8am to 5pm on February 9 in 12 polling stations in Majitha, one each in Moga and Sardulgarh and nine each in Muktsar and Sangrur. Majitha constituency witnessed a close contest with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in fray against AAP's Himmat Singh Shergill and Congress candidate Sukhwinder Singh Lalli Majithia.
These polling stations had recorded high polling percentages. Re-polls will also be conducted in 16 polling stations for by-election for Amritsar (Lok Sabha) seat.
The decision was taken following reports of malfunctioning of EVMs and voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines due to which, polling was interrupted in several polling stations.
The issue was also raised by AAP Convener, Arvind Kejriwal, who criticised the Election Commission for faulty EVMs. The local candidates also sought extra time from the Commission for polling, in order to compensate the delay, which was not granted.
It was for the first time, that the EC had used VVPAT machines for elections in the country. A total of 6, 668 VVPAT machines were used in 33 out of 117 constituencies of Punjab.
However, 538 VVPAT machines were replaced during the morning during mock trial and 187 were replaced during polling in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur districts. As many as 195 EVM machines were also replaced during the mock trial. The EC also admitted to the delay caused in 25 polling booths of Majitha, 10 in Muktsar and Sangrur due to the technical glitches.
Malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT was the reason that the EC has ordered re-poll at certain polling booths, said VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
"All concerned Returning Officers and Observers have been instructed to act accordingly. All necessary arrangements have been made and election material, EVMs, security and poll staff in adequate numbers have been deputed for this task," he said.
The ECI has also ordered paid leave wherever the re-poll is announced on February 9 to facilitate the voters to exercise their franchise.
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