{"id":125042,"date":"2021-04-02T14:53:15","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T09:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=125042"},"modified":"2021-04-02T15:38:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T10:08:30","slug":"assam-evm-row-election-commission-suspends-4-poll-officials-repolling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/politics\/assam-evm-row-election-commission-suspends-4-poll-officials-repolling\/","title":{"rendered":"Assam EVM Row: Election Commission suspends 4 poll officials, orders repolling in booth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Election Commission on Friday announced re-election in one polling station of Assam’s Ratabari seat and suspended four poll officials, hours after a video surfaced, alleging that an electronic voting machine (EVM) was being transported in the car of a BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul. Assam went through the second phase of polling on Thursday, recording over 77 per cent of voter turnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the preliminary report sent by the District Election Officer said the poll officials were initially unaware that the vehicle in which they were travelling belonged to the BJP MLA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident had led to violence in Karimganj district where the seat is located. The car, Mahindra Bolero, belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video was tweeted out by senior Assam-based journalist Atanu Bhuyan, who also reported that the situation is tense in Patharkandi because of this incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/atanubhuyan\/status\/1377684745023221765\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The incident occurred at around 9pm, when the vehicle assigned by the election commission to polling officials posted to centre number 149 at Ratabari’s Indira MV School broke down while heading towards the strong room. The presiding officer of the voting centre contacted the sector officer for a replacement but failed to establish the communication and took lift in a private car without checking it’s ownership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, Krishnendu Paul’s electoral affidavit found in the car confirmed that his wife, Madhumita Paul, owned the vehicle (registration number: AS10B0022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opposition leaders cited the incident to allege malpractices including EVM capturing by the ruling BJP. The Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the only way the BJP can win Assam is by looting and capturing EVMs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is the only way the BJP can win Assam: by looting EVMs. EVM capturing, like there used to be booth capturing. All under the nose of the Election Commission. Sad day for democracy. #EVM_theft_Assam<\/a> #AssamAssemblyElection2021<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/5dmlu67Uui<\/a><\/p>— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) April 1, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>