SP LEADER QUESTIONS REVISION OF GKP POLLING %

GORAKHPUR: Samajwadi Party (SP) district president Prahlad Yadav on questioned why the district election authorities revised the voter turnout by 5% within moments of putting out what was ostensibly the final figure.

“How is it possible that an official release issued by joint chief electoral officer Ramesh Chandra showed the poll percentage at 43 % and moments later another press release issued by the district magistrate showed it as 47.45%,” he asked.

He also said, “The administration and the Election Commission (EC) should also make it clear as to why EVMs developed snags at booths. In Ghosipurva, polling was halted for two hours and voters had to return without exercising their franchise. The machines were repaired after people a staged sit-in but developed a snag again after 10 votes were cast.”

When asked how the poll percentage increased by almost 5% in the revised press release, additional district magistrate Prabhunath, who is also the deputy electoral officer, said, “The figure released earlier was tentative only. The final poll percentage came after sector and zonal magistrates gave their inputs.”

He also denied the accusation that owing to defunct EVMs, people returned without voting

“This is not true. As per the EC’s guidelines, every voter, who was present at the booth till 5pm, was allowed to vote,” he said.