Varanasi official in dock over EVMs

SP workers stop a convoy shifting EVMs, alleging replacement of EVMs used in the UP polls, in Varanasi, Pic/PTI

A senior administration official of Varanasi has been suspended over the row involving voting machines in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

The Election Commission of India ordered action against Varanasi Additional District Magistrate NK Singh over alleged violation of rules in the transportation of training EVMs. It however, rubbished claims that EVMs were tampered with.

The action came after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged transportation of EVMs ahead of the counting of votes, which will be done on Thursday.

"Some rumours related to EVMs were spread which is wrong. Action has been taken. Commission has directed CEO UP to take action against such rumour mongers," said EC.

"ECI has taken action against any type of breach of protocol. ECI has suspended ADM Varanasi," said Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar.

Citing the 2017 polls, Akhilesh said the BJP had won about 50 seats with a margin of fewer than 5,000 votes. He talked of alleged "violations in EVMs". He asked the Election Commission to clarify.

Cong's last resort to keep flock together

Panaji: Desperate to avoid the repeat of the 2017 fiasco when it had failed to form a government in Goa despite scoring the maximum number of seats, the Congress has shifted all the candidates who had contested the Assembly polls to a luxury resort in Bambolim village near Panaji. It may not allow some candidates even to visit counting centres.

50,000 officials to count votes today

Over 50,000 officials have been deployed for the counting of votes on Thursday in the five states where assembly polls were held recently. Nearly 1,200 counting halls have been set up where results will be recorded from electronic voting machines. Uttar Pradesh, which has a maximum of 403 seats, will have more than 750 counting halls, followed by Punjab over 200, said officials.

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