There have been several reports of Electronic Voting Machines malfunctioning across the region, where people are casting their votes today.
A Times Bow reporter said that there were reports of EVM malfunctioning coming in from Ahmedabad, Patan, Viramgam and Himmatnagar.
His tweet said, “The one in Ahmedabad was replaced immediately. Time to shun EVMs? Problems bhi khatm or controversy bhi?”
Breaking: Reports of EVM malfunctioning coming in from Ahmedabad, Patan, Viramgam and Himmatnagar. The one in Ahmedabad was replaced immediately. Time to shun EVMs? Problems bhi khatm or controversy bhi?
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) December 14, 2017
Patan is the same place, where Patidar leader Hardik Patel had attracted more than one lakh people for his election rally.
EVMs are also reported to show glitches in rural areas of Mehsana, where Congress was expected to do very well.
AMAZING !!!
In KALOL, Panchmaal , Voting is YET TO START due to #EVM failure in Bhagni Samaj Kendra !!!
The EC is taking the VOTING rights of Gujarati in RURAL AREAs for a ONE BIG RIDE.
NOT NORMAL PEOPLE.. PROTEST !#GujaratRound2
— My Fellow Indians (@MyFellowIndians) December 14, 2017
According to another report, at least three EVMs were reported to have malfunctioned in Ghatlodia. Just like the first phase, the voting was briefly suspended after Congress complained of detection of bluetooth network in some EVMs in Vaghrol, Dantivada, Banaskantha.
In KALOL, Panchmaal, there was a delay in start of the voting because of the reported glitches in EVMs.
In the first of Gujarat polls on 9 December, the Election Commission had to replace as many as 867 EVMs after the complaints of glitches. Opposition parties have been casting their apprehensions over the reliability of the EVMs with some even asking to EC to return to ballot papers.
Earlier this week, Janta Ka Reporter had made a stunning revelation on how the beneficiaries of the Gujarat’s Rs 20,000 gas scam could be linked to the companies that make microchips for Indian EVMs. We had also revealed that the EC was unaware if the microchips provided to India had been tampered with to suit one political party.
The counting for the Gujarat polls will take place on 18 December.