Key Points:
- On Wednesday, April 1, 2021, an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was found in a BJP candidate’s car.
- The car in which the EVM was seen being transported belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul, a BJP contestant in nearby Patharkandi.
- On Thursday, the Election Commission ordered a ‘Fresh Voting’ in Assam’s Ratabari seat’s one polling station.
On Thursday, April 2, 2021, the Election Commission ordered a ‘Fresh Voting’ in Assam’s Ratabari seats one polling station after a controversy of officials transporting an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in a BJP candidate’s car yesterday broke out.
There were four officials that were involved in the act have been suspended from their posts, said a release that came from the poll panel.
The seat is located in the Karimganj district and due to the incident, violence in the district was seen.
The car in which the EVM was seen being transported belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul, a BJP contestant in nearby Patharkandi. The opposition leaders got a chance to aim at the ruling party saying that BJP was conducting malpractices.
This is shocking!
EVMs found in the Car of Krishnendu Paul, Patharkandi BJP candidate.
EC must answer where, how, and why BJP Candidate has EVMs in his car? It must be thoroughly investigated to restore people's trust in our election process. pic.twitter.com/kfGezG9J9J
— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) April 1, 2021
What Actually Happened?
- A few instances of violence were recorded in Assam.
- A video of the disturbance in Karimganj was being widely shared on Social Media.
- A day after the video, the Election Commission ordered repolling in polling station 179 of Ratabari seat in Assam.
- 9 PM – The Election Commission-assigned vehicle of a polling team posted to polling station number 149 at Ratabari’s Indira MV School.
- Was on its way back and the in charge officer contacted the sector officer for a replacement vehicle and was assured of one.
- 9:20 PM – The staff took a lift in a Private Car without checking its ownership.
- 11 PM – The vehicle reached the strong room locality and opposition supporters identified and crowded the vehicle.
- The driver and the Police staff ran for safety.
- Stones were thrown at the car and passengers were abused.
- District administration has to ask the police force for help in order to shoo the crowd, secure the vehicle, the EVM and the polling officials.
- It was then recognized that the vehicle belonged to Krishnendu Paul’s wife, Madhumita Paul (registration number: AS10B0022).
BJPs opposition, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, in a series of tweets, asked for “a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVMs” by all national parties. In another tweet in Hindi, she referred to the Election Commission sarcastically as “masoom” or innocent.
The Factual report that the poll body gave out said, “The Polling party of 149-Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) met with an unfortunate incident on April 1, 2021. The polling party comprised a Presiding Officer and 3 polling personnel. They were accompanied by police personnel comprising a constable and a homeguard.”
In the letter, the EC further said, “At about 9:20 pm, polling party hailed a passing vehicle & boarded it along with their EVM & other things without checking ownership of the vehicle. As reported by them, they moved towards Karimganj as they reached Kanaishil, Karimganj at 11:00 pm, they had to slow down in traffic. As they slowed down, they were surrounded by a mob of about 50 people which started pelting stones at them. The mob also started abusing them and did not allow the vehicle to pass.”
“On examination, the polled EVM comprising of BU, CU and VVPAT was found to be with its seal intact without any damage whatsoever. All the items have been deposited in the strong room.”
“The Presiding Officer was issued show-cause notice for violation of transport protocol. PO & 3 other officials placed under suspension. Although EVM’s seals were found intact it has been decided to do a re-poll at No 149- Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari(SC),” it said.
Due to incident, the final phase of polling in the state will be conducted on April 6 and the results will be out on May 2.
