Patna: The opposition RJD on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the state election commission (SEC) demanding “a high-level probe” after two EVMs and VVPATs were recovered from a hotel room in Muzaffarpur.
Four police personnel were suspended and a poll official was issued show cause notice in Bihars Muzaffarpur district on Tuesday for keeping six EVMs inside a hotel room while voting was on for the fifth phase, a top official said. The action was taken after SDO submitted his initial probe report to the district magistrate. The district authorities were, however, quick to assert that none of the EVMs were used or their seals broken.
RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said, “We have requested the EC to initiate stern action against those who have been responsible for shifting EVMs to a Muzaffarpur hotel room. This also shows a major lapse in the security of booths and EVMs on a day when Lok Sabha election was being held.”
Officials claimed that the state administration has ordered a probe into the matter and may initiate action against the sector Magistrate Awadhesh Kumar who was responsible for the safety of the EVMs and VVPATs.
District magistrate Alok Ranjan Ghosh confirmed the report and said that the sector officer shifted the voting machines to the hotel so that his driver could cast his vote.
He said that the department was conducting a probe and has also sought explanations from the officials for violating the rules of polling.
“The machines were meant to be replaced by faulty ones. The sector officer made a mistake by shifting the machines to a private place which is against the polling rules. A probe has been ordered and action will be initiated against him,” Muzaffarpur DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh said.
According to the SEC, Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest turnout at 61.30 percent during the fifth phase of polls on May 6.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had earlier said that the ruling NDA in Bihar has been trying to slow the voting process in several areas by sending faulty EVMs. He said, “The NDA is doing this out of fear because the grand alliance is going to win on a maximum number of seats.”
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