The Hindu (Kozhikode)

Delayed polling: UDF alleges attempts to rig election in Vadakara

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The United Democratic Front (UDF) has alleged negligence on the part of polling oƒcials for the “unusual delay” in the completion of voting in the Vadakara constituen­cy.

It claimed that voting was delayed or interrupte­d due to glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) mainly in polling stations that witnessed a high turnout of its supporters.

Post-poll meetings held by the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim league also sought an investigat­ion into suspected attempts to derail voting. In some Assembly segments, campaign managers alleged organised attempts to prevent voting during late evening by their political opponents.

District Congress Committee president K. Praveen Kumar was the rst to allege attempts by a few polling oƒcials to rig elections. He claimed that the booths dominated by the

UDF claims that voting was delayed mainly in polling stations that witnessed high turnout of its supporters

Left Democratic Front (LDF) had witnessed no such technical issues or inordinate delay in voting for strange reasons.

Meanwhile, the LDF accused UDF leaders of making “false accusation­s” out of fear of failure in Vadakara. It pointed out that malfunctio­ning of the EVMs and long queues during late evening hours were visible across the State, and that they had nothing to do with oƒcial apathy.

LDF campaigner­s, who worked for K.K. Shailaja in Vadakara, also held UDF leaders accountabl­e for encouragin­g a communal campaign in the constituen­cy to win votes. They said the ongoing cyber investigat­ion would bring to light the truth and sources of such messages.

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