Haryana: EVMs stop functioning at several places, polling affected

Chandigarh, Oct 15: As Haryana voter turnout is picking up, complaints of glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) have also started coming from several parts of the state. Faults in the EVMs has affected voting process on the booths as the polling has been stopped.

As per local media reports, voting on Rohtak district's Singhpura constituency's booth number 142 has been stopped after it developed a glitch. Rohtak is bastion of incumbent Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Voting on booth number 266 and 155 in Badshahpur constituency in Gurgaon has also been suspended temporarily after the EVM developed a snag. Similarly, machines in booth number 1, 4, 6 and 7 in Mahem's Seman village have reportedly stopped functioning.

Voting on all these polling booths have stopped working, as of now. The officials of Election Commission are trying to repair the EVMs.

Meanwhile, polling on booth no. 83 in Lakshman Vihar area falling under Mevat district has also been stopped following reports of firing.

In the meantime, over 30 per cent of the 1.63 crore eligible voters had exercised their franchise in Haryana till 12 noon today as polling was on at a brisk pace in the multi-cornered contest.

Amid tight security, polling commenced in all the 90 assembly seats at 7 am and would continue till 6 pm to decide the fate of 1,351 candidates. Counting of votes will take place on October 19.

Election officials said that the polling was slow during the first two hours, but gradually picked up pace and over 25 per cent had cast their vote by 11 am.

However, BJP candidate from Narnaund assembly segment Abhimanyu alleged that attempts to capture booth were made in Baas village in the constituency at the behest of rival INLD, which vehemently denied the charge.

Abhimanyu told reporters in Narnaund that wires of web-casting camera were cut in Booth No 140 and attempt was made to capture booth by the ‘goondas'. This is hyper sensitive booth, he said, ‘but the police administration is sitting like a mute spectator'.

A spokesman of the INLD said that Abhimanyu was levelling false allegations ‘out of sheer frustration sensing his imminent defeat'.

(With inputs from agencies)