Four EVMs missing, alleges TC candidate

Rabi Ranjan Chattopadhyay, Trinamool Congress candidate from Burdwan South Assembly seat alleged that four Electronic Voting Machines of the constituency are missing on Wednesday.

"Four EVMs are missing and in 12 other EVMs the control unit and the ballot unit are not tallying. This was detected during routine checking of EVMs yesterday," Chattopadhyay alleged at a press conference. 

Chattopadhyay said he has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission appointed General Observer of the constituency A K Chetri regarding the four missing EVMs and the 12 faulty EVMs.

 Meanwhile, the Returning Officer and Sub-Divisional Officer (North) Prashanata Adhikary accepted that four EVMs were found missing during Tuesday's routine check.

But the District Magistrate and District Election Officer of Burdwan Omkar Singh Meena denied that four EVMs are missing and claimed it was typographical error. Regarding the 12 EVMs, Meena said there are reserve EVMs which would be used instead.

Election to the Burdwan South seat will be held during the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly election on May 3. Chattopadhay is pitted against West Bengal Industries minister and CPI-M Politburo member Nirupam Sen from the Burdwan South seat.