EC ordered repolling at 73 polling booths in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency

| | Lucknow | in Lucknow

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday, ordered repolling at 73 polling booths in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency where technical snags in EVMs-VPPATs were reported during the by-election on Monday.

Both Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal and the ruling BJP had alleged that the EVMs at these booths were faulty and could have a bearing on free and fair outcome of the elections. 

Chief Electoral Officer (UP) Venkatshwar Lu said in Lucknow on Tuesday that repolling would be held on May 30 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 80,000 voters were likely to exercise their franchise. 

The EC also asked authorities of Shamli and Saharanpur to take measures for ensuring security in 73 booths and ensure free and fair polling.

Repolling will be held in 23 polling stations at Nakur, 44 in Gangoh and one at Thana Bhawan in Saharanpur and five in Shamli. 

A total of 54 per cent polling was recorded on Monday in Kairana seat, which fell vacant with the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh. In 2014, 73 per cent voting was recorded.

DM of Saharanpur PK Pandey, in his report to the EC, had said that polling could not take place in as many as 35 booths due to malfunctioning of EVM and VVPAT (voter verified paper audit trail) in two Assembly segments of Kairana Lok Sabha seat and recommended repoll.