#MPPolls: 745 EVMs, VVPAT machines replaced; Cong complains to CEC
As many as 745 EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were replaced today in Madhya Pradesh, where voting for the Assembly elections is underway, a senior poll official said. The announcement by state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao came after Congress leaders claimed that EVMs at many places had malfunctioned. Congress has demanded an extended voting period as compensation.
Election Commission should compensate for delay: Jyotiraditya Scindia
"There have been several complaints that EVMs at many places malfunctioned. We have written to the Election Commission and demanded that voting time in these polling booths should be extended to compensate for the delay," said Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress MP from Guna.
EVMs in the state should be changed, demands Kamal Nath
"Several reports are coming from across the state that EVMs are not working. This has been affecting the polling. Long queues are being witnessed in the city. EC should immediately take a decision. The EVMs should be changed," state Congress chief Kamal Nath tweeted. Responding to the demand, CEC O P Rawat said local officers in MP can take the call on the matter.
3,00,782 government employees on poll duty, 65,341 polling-stations set up
Rawat said that in Delhi there are provisions for the extension of time and local officers can take the call. The battle of ballots comes just months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. There are 2,899 candidates in the fray. The state has 5.04cr eligible voters. Altogether 3,00,782 government-employees, including 45,904 women, are on poll duty and 65,341 polling-stations have been set up.
