Polls 2017 : EC orders re-poll in 48 constituencies of Punjab

Chandigarh: The Election Commission (EC) has ordered re-poll in 48 polling stations falling in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur assembly segments in Punjab following malfunctioning in the Voter-Verified Audit Paper Trail (VVPAT) EVMs on February 4 last.

The re-poll will take place on February 9, stated the EC on Tuesday.

Re-poll has also been ordered by the EC at polling stations in Moga and Sardulgarh segments where EVMs displayed the votes polled during mock polls.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh said "The re-poll will take place at 48 polling stations on February 9 because of the malfunctioning in VVPAT on polling day."

It could be mentioned that the EC had used VVPAT for the first time in Punjab at 6,668 polling stations in 33 assembly segments and two segments in Amritsar Lok Sabha seats. During the trial, 538 VVPATs were replaced while during polling 187 VVPATs were replaced, an official from the commission stated.

The official also said, "Election Commission had even sought a report from the state election authorities about the malfunctioning of VVPATs which caused delayed in voting."

After VVPATs developed snag, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister had attacked the Election Commission and tweeted, "Never has any election seen malfunctioning EVMs on such a large scale. Was it mischief done deliberately by or in collusion with EC."

VVPAT is a polling machine that generates a receipt and allows people to verify if the vote went in favour of the candidate against whose name the button was pressed on the EVM.