Faulty voting machines in Malappuram and Thrissur districts and moderate to heavy rain elsewhere marred the second phase of polling to the local bodies in Kerala.

Still, 42 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the seven districts that went to polls in the second and final round on Thursday.

VOTER TURNOUT

Voting percentages at noon were as follow: Pathanamthitta 40; Kottayam 44; Alappuzha 46; Ernakulam 40; Thrissur and Palakkad 41 each; and Malappuram 40.

Proceedings at Malappuram were disrupted after machines went out of order in 273 booths.

The State Election Commission suspects deliberate attempts to tamper with the voting machines after cellophane tape and paper rolls were found stuck in the machines and some were smeared with sticking glue.

The Commission has asked for reports from the District Collectors. It plans to confer with the police administration before deciding on whether to conduct a re-poll in the affected areas or extend voting hours beyond the stipulated 5 pm.

MACHINES REINSTATED

Voting began at 7 am with long queues forming at many places. But rain and malfunctioning machines put a dampener on the voters’ enthusiasm.

Many voters returned after waiting 30 minutes to one hour in the queue and in the surroundings of the polling booths.

Of the 273 ballot machines that went out of order in the morning, 227 have been reinstated, sources in the State Election Commission said. Polling has since resumed at many of these places.    

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Deputy Leader of Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have demanded an inquiry into alleged attempts to tamper with the machines.

 

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