Faulty EVMs, heat test voters in Nizamabad

Nizamabad: A 68.01 per cent turnout was reported in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday. Nizamabad is in the headlines as 185 candidates are contesting. In view of this, the Election Commission introduced the M3 version of electronic voting machines for polling. Technical snags in EVMs delayed the polling process in several polling stations.

In addition, voters found it difficult to identify major political party candidates on the EVMs as officials set up 12 EVMs in each polling compartment. Elderly voters and illiterates were unable to choose their candidates due to 186 symbols on the EVMs set up in L shape. Officials immediately restored the problematic EVMs and replaced a few.

As per the revised timings set by the EC, polling began at 8 am. Due to technical snags in EVMs, voters expressed displeasure. Polling began more than two hours late in a few polling stations in Bheemgal mandal.

Polling percentage registered 13.80 ( at 11 am), 38.10 (1 pm), 45.29 (3 pm) and 54.20 at 5 pm. Polling improved in all seven Assembly constituency limits in Nizamabad and Jagtial districts. There were long queues in front of polling stations as voters reached early in the morning to avoid the scorching sun.

Meanwhile, TRS MP candidate Kalvakuntla Kavitha expressed displeasure over polling arrangements in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency limits. Voters faced a lot of inconvenience due to technical problems in EVMs, she said. Setting up EVMs also confused the voters, she said. Ms Kavitha along with her husband D.R. Anil Kumar voted in Pothangal village in Navipet mandal. BJP MP candidate Dharmapuri Arvind and his wife Priyanka and Congress MP candidate Madhu Goud Yashki voted in Nizamabad. RS member D.Srinivas voted at Pragathinagar polling station.

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