Leaders from Congress and AAP, who are facing the BJP in the two Lok Sabha seats in the coastal state, said that EVMs in Cuncolim, Quepem and St Cruz segments developed faults.
Representational image. (Photo: IANS)
The Congress and the AAP on Tuesday alleged that EVMs in some polling booths in North and South Goa malfunctioned and that extra votes were recorded for the BJP during a mock drill.
Leaders from the two opposition parties, who are facing the BJP in the two Lok Sabha seats in the coastal state, said that EVMs in Cuncolim, Quepem and St Cruz segments had developed faults.
Elvis Gomes, AAP’s South Goa Lok Sabha seat nominee, claimed that 17 votes went to the BJP after a mock drill at a booth in Cuncolim in which a total of only 8 votes were cast. Thus the votes registered were more than those polled.
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“Total eight votes were polled during the mock drill, but the result showed 17 in name of BJP, eight for AAP and seven for Congress. How is this possible? This seems to be trend across India,” he told reporters, adding that the election officer halted the polling process after he raised the matter.
“Click Election of shame ? Mock poll with 9 votes for each of 6 candidates in booth no 31 in 34 AC in Goa. Total count BJP gets 17, Cong 9 , Aap 8. Ind 1 . Robbery. @SpokespersonECI , @CEO_Goa claims are hollow . @AamAadmiParty pl take up,” he tweeted.
Election of shame ? Mock poll with 9 votes for each of 6 candidates in booth no 31 in 34 AC in Goa. Total count BJP gets 17, Cong 9 , Aap 8. Ind 1 . Robbery. @SpokespersonECI , @CEO_Goa claims are hollow . @AamAadmiParty pl take up
— Elvis Gomes (@ielvisgomes) April 23, 2019
A similar was problem was reported from the Quepem segement.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal pointed fingers at the BJP after Gomes raised the matter.
“Faulty” EVM in Goa also transfers others votes to BJP. Are these really faulty or programmed in this fashion?” he tweeted.
Absolutely shocking. All “faulty” EVMs deliver votes to BJP. https://t.co/lBQssZKzqk
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 23, 2019
Gomes also alleged that in Mata school and in Mormugao Assembly Constituency BJP polling agents are allowed to sport badges on them.
“BJP polling agents are allowed to sport badges on them with name of BJP candidate in Mata school & in Mormugao AC in Goa. ECI official has gone to check rulebook! @SpokespersonECI @CEO_Goa why go through elections ?
@AamAadmiParty @AAPGoa,” he tweeted.
BJP polling agents are allowed to sport badges on them with name of BJP candidate in Mata school & in Mormugao AC in Goa. ECI official has gone to check rulebook! @SpokespersonECI @CEO_Goa why go through elections ?@AamAadmiParty @AAPGoa pic.twitter.com/AlAMKm3dWu
— Elvis Gomes (@ielvisgomes) April 23, 2019
Gomes also posted photos of some poll agents at St Cruz assembly constituency.
— Elvis Gomes (@ielvisgomes) April 23, 2019
Alleging foul play by BJP, Chandrakant Kavlekar, Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly and a Congress party member, said that he will file a complaint with the Election Commission.
“During mock polling, all votes were getting registered in the BJP’s name despite pressing buttons of other parties. I will be filing a complaint with the Election Commission. This is foul play by the BJP,” he said.
A voter in St Cruz Assembly segment of North Goa Lok Sabha seat claimed that the EVM button was not getting pressed for the candidate chosen by him.
State additional chief electoral officer Narayan Sawant said after getting complaints, the faulty EVMs and VVPAT machines were replaced.
“Initially, there were complaints but now everything is going on smoothly,” he said.
Apparently admitting that there was a fault in the EVMs, the CEO Goa tweeted, “Entire set of EVM has been replaced for AC 34, PS No 31 as per report from DEO South Goa.”
Polling started in AC 34, PS 31 after successful mock poll on replaced set of EVM. https://t.co/Bjd2kC8k1W
— CEO Goa Election (@CEO_Goa) April 23, 2019
READ | Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 3 Live Updates
Complaints of faulty EVMs have been reported from other polling booths across Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
Reports say that EVM malfunctioning was reported from seven booths in Alathur, 11 booths in Palakkad, seven booths in Kasaragod and 10 booths in Pathanamthitta besides Cherthala in Alappuzha district and Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, where senior Congress leader and sitting MP Shashi Tharoor is contesting against BJP’s Kummanam Rajasekaran and Left Democratic Front’s C Divakaran.
The MP alleged that the EVMs were registering only votes polled for the BJP adding that he has asked the EC to take note.
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