EC orders repoll at one Assam station after EVM controversy

Presiding officer had carried the device in a car belonging to a BJP candidate

Violence broke out in Karimganj district of Assam on Thursday night after some Congress and AIUDF supporters spotted a BJP candidate's vehicle being used to take a polled EVM to the strong room.: File picture

TT Bureau, Agencies   |   Guwahati   |   02.04.21:  The Election Commission on Friday ordered a repoll at a polling station in Ratabari seat of Assam after the presiding officer carried the EVM after polling in a vehicle which reportedly belonged to a BJP candidate.

In a statement, the EC said the presiding officer and three other officials have been placed under suspension. The presiding officer has also been issued a notice under violation of the transport protocol.

"Although seals of the EVM were found intact, it has nevertheless been decided to do a re-poll at No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution," the poll panel said.

Violence broke out in Karimganj district of Assam on Thursday night after some Congress and AIUDF supporters spotted a BJP candidate's vehicle being used to take a polled EVM to the strong room, forcing the police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control.

The vehicle of the polling party of Indira M.V. School in the Ratabari constituency broke down on their way to the strong room in Karimganj town, officials said on Friday morning.

"They took a lift in a private vehicle. Incidentally, the vehicle was registered under the name of sitting BJP MLA from Patharkandi Krishnendu Paul. When it reached Nimal Bazar area, some public spotted it," an official of the district administration said.

Paul is also the BJP candidate from the seat this time.

The mob, mostly consisting of AIUDF and Congress supporters, vandalised the vehicle, upon which the polling party ran away, leaving behind the EVMs, eyewitnesses said.

"The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police reached the spot immediately and they tried to pacify the mob. But the crowd did not listen, forcing the police to fire in the air to disperse them," police sources said.

The DC and the SP then brought the EVMs to Patharkandi police station at night, from where it was taken and deposited at the strong room in Karimganj town, they added.

Dubbing the incident as unsurprising, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, "Every time there is an election videos of private vehicles caught transporting EVM’s  show up."

Every time there is an election videos of private vehicles caught transporting EVM’s show up. Unsurprisingly they have the following things in common:

1. The vehicles usually belong to BJP candidates or their associates. ....

1/3 https://t.co/s8W9Oc0UcV

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 2, 2021

Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Staring at decisive defeat in Assam Assembly Elections 2021, BJP has panicked immeasurably. The last desperate measure is always EVM theft in Assam .

Staring at decisive defeat in #AssamAssemblyElections2021 , BJP has panicked immeasurably.

The last desperate measure is always #EVM_theft_Assam .

Will the #ECI reply -:

1. Why were EVM recovered from BJP Candidate, Krishnendu Paul’s car?

1/2

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 2, 2021

 

Ratabari and Patharkandi constituencies went for polls in the second phase on Thursday.