Odisha Election: EVM glitch delays voting at several booths
Bhubaneswar: While voters turn up in larger numbers to exercise their franchise at polling booths across 4 Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly constituencies, technical glitch in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) also dampened their spirit at several places.
As per the reports, polling process was delayed at a number of booths in districts like Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Koraput and Gajapati districts in the opening hours of the first phase voting this morning.
Voters had to wait long hours before being able to cast their votes at Chitrakonda High School (Booth No. 211) after the EVM went kaput. EVMs at a number of booths in Govindpalli were also detected with technical glitch delaying voting later.
Similarly, poll officials found it difficult to start the voting at 7 am following EVM dysfunction at Booth No. 267 in M Rampur Nodal UP School under Narla Assembly Constituency in Kalahandi district later in the morning. A number of voters had to return their homes due to the discrepancy.
In Koraput district, a similar situation prevailed after EVM machines installed at Parabeda High School (Booth No. 162) in Jeypore area developed technical snag. It delayed beginning of the voting by 45 minutes. Similar, issues were reported form Kotpad area of the district also.
Voter resentment erupted in Gajapati district also over voting machine malfunctioning at Booth No. 144 of Paralakhemundi Assembly Constituency during the initial phase of the voting and was latter sorted out.
Reports of VVPAT malfunctioning has also been reported from Rayagada district today. The incident which took place at Booth No. 112 at Padmapur in Gunupur area of late, affected polling.