Padampur bypoll: BJP candidate Pradip Purohit alleges shuffling of EVMs

A day before the counting of votes polled for Padampur bypoll in Odisha’s Bargarh district, BJP candidate Pradip Purohit has brought serious allegations that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been shuffled at some booths.

As per Purohit, EVM numbers are not matching at eleven booths. The EVM numbers provided to BJP are not matching to the numbers available with the Presiding officers at those booths. Purohit met Bargarh Collector in this regard on Wednesday and demanded an investigation into the incident.

“The mismatching of EVM numbers has been found in 11 BJP based booths where the party is expected to do well. We have informed about the development to Bargarh Collector. However, the Collector has no clue about it. The collector has assured us to launch an investigation into the incident,” said Purohit.

“We are suspecting that the EVMs have been shuffled. It is strange that even the Collector and the Presiding officers are in oblivion about it,” he added.

Counting for the bypoll to Padampur Assembly constituency will start on Thursday at 8 am.

Adequate security arrangements have been made in and around the counting centre.  The entire 100 meters zone will be declared as a pedestrian zone. There will be three-tier security consisting of central armed police force, state armed police and local police.