The Hindu : National : Re-polling in 5 polling stations in Assam

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Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006

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National

Re-polling in 5 polling stations in Assam

Special Correspondent

Malfunctioning of EVMs, tampering by miscreants responsible

Guwahati: The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in five polling stations in four Assembly constituencies in Assam on Wednesday.

Chief Electoral Officer J. P. Prakash said here on Tuesday that re-polling was ordered in one polling station each in Lahowal and Pathrakandi Assembly constituencies due to malfunctioning of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

In Chabua constituency, re-polling was ordered in a booth where miscreants damaged the EVM. In Karimganj North constituency, re-polling would be held in two polling booths as the EVMs were damaged when election-in-charge officials met with an accident.

AGP demand rejected

The CEO, however, rejected the Asom Gana Parishad's (AGP) demand for re-polling in the entire Jalukbari constituency. Minister of State for Planning and Development Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking re-election from this constituency, where, the AGP alleged, several EVMs were taken to police stations instead of being deposited in strong rooms.

The CEO said the poll-in-charge officers had just stopped outside the polling booth to move together towards the strong room. He refuted allegations that the EVMs were tampered with at the police station.

Violation of model code

The State Election Department has also sent the video recordings of the Prime Minister's speech during an election rally in Karbi Anglong to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The BJP lodged a complaint with the Commission that Manmohan Singh had violated the model code of conduct by announcing a rehabilitation package for the victims of ethnic riots. The Prime Minister's Office, however, denied it.

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