Over 30 per cent polling till 1 pm in Kairana, complains of EVM malfunctioning

Over 30 per cent polling was recorded till 1 pm in Kairana parliamentary constituency while 33 per cent votes were polled in Noorpur Assembly constituency today amid reports of EVMs malfunctioning.

The EC has given an assurance that faulty EVMs are being changed and repoll will be ordered, where ever necessary.

According to the Election Commission, till 1 pm, Kairana recorded 30.61 per cent polling, while the polling percentage in Noorpur Assembly constituency was 33 per cent.

Opposition Samajwadi Party and RLD have complained of snags in EVM machines.

"Getting reports of problems in EVMs in the by election but still voters should go to cast votes," SP president Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary charged that 140 EVMs have been tampered with in Noorpur and similar reports have also come in from Kairana.

"The BJP wants to avenge defeat in earlier bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur anyhow and win these bypolls," Chaurdhary charged.

RLD spokesman Anil Dubey said there are reports of EVM malfunctioning in both the constituencies, specially in areas where the RLD-SP have influence.

"We (RLD and SP) are going to meet the CEO to lodge a formal complaint in this regard," Dubey said.

Denying opposition charge, government spokesman and cabinet minister Srikant Sharma said, "Government has asked the EC to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. The opposition's allegations are baseless and seeing their defeat they have started playing gimmicks and talking things, which are untrue. As far as EVMs are concerned, I am also getting complaints and the EC will look into it."