EC orders re-polling in 49 stations of Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra

The re-polls will be held on Wednesday in the 49 polling stations located in Bhandara, Sakoli, Arjuni-Morgaon, Tirora and Gondiya assembly segments.

After incidents of malfunctioning EVM-VVPATs in Monday’s bypolls, the Election Commission has ordered a repoll in 49 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency, an official statement said in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Voters standing in a queue outside a polling booth during Lok Sabha by-election in Mumbai. (Pramod Thakur/HT File Photo)

The re-polls will be held on Wednesday in the 49 polling stations located in Bhandara, Sakoli, Arjuni-Morgaon, Tirora and Gondiya assembly segments.

The polling timings will be from 7am to 3pm and the indelible ink will be marked on the ring finger of the left hand of each voter.

On Monday, deputy EC officer Anant Walaskar had said that after complaints were received from 64 polling stations, voting had been cancelled in 35 polling stations and a re-poll would be ordered.

However, higher officials denied it, claiming that after all malfunctioning EVM-VVPATs were replaced, voting had resumed normally by afternoon.

The EVM-VVPATs malfunctioned in polling booths at Khapa, Mandhal, Hingna and Kharbi in Bhandara-Gondiya.