Before the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections, VVPAT slips are allegedly scattered in the streets at some places. TMC has raised questions on this. A TMC worker has claimed that these slips appear to be from Noapara assembly constituency. These VVPAT slips were found near a petrol pump in Neelganj Subhashnagar. After receiving the information, local police officers have reached here and are investigating the matter.
Noapara assembly constituency falls in North 24 Parganas district.
BJP candidate from Noapara Arjun Singh has also informed the Election Commission officials about this. In a post on Twitter, he wrote that hundreds of VVPAT slips of booth number 29 located at Garudiya under 107- Noapara assembly constituency, Dattapukur police station and Madhyamgram Found in a garbage heap in Subhash Nagar under the assembly constituency.
Arjun Singh has asked how is this possible? The VVPAT slips should have been kept in the strong room along with the respective EVMs, but they have been thrown in the garbage.
The BJP candidate has said that he appeals to the Election Commission to investigate the matter and identify the culprits responsible for this incident and also ensure that the counting process is not corrupted in any way.
CPM State Secretary Mohammad Salim has claimed that most of the VVPAT slips are related to CPM candidates.
Counting of votes will begin in West Bengal from 8 am on Monday. Complete preparations have been made for this. 293 counting centers have been set up in Bengal, where votes will be counted in a total of 459 counting halls. These include 129 single and 163 double counting halls.
A total of 539 observers have been appointed to conduct the counting of votes transparently in the state. For security, state police, state armed police and central forces have been deployed in a three-tier security cordon system. Counting agents will not be allowed to leave the premises until the counting of votes is completed. They will have to take permission from the Returning Officer (RO) to go out.
Meanwhile, before the counting of votes, DG CRPF visited the counting centre. He took stock of the security and law and order system. CRPF is fully prepared to deal with any disturbance on the counting day.
Mock poll slips
Initial investigation by the Election Commission has revealed that these VVPAT slips are of mock poll. Similar slips were received after Bihar assembly elections last year also. Even then action was taken against the polling officer responsible for this. This time too, the Commission has asked the District Election Officer to investigate this negligence and send a report. After receiving the report, the Commission will take necessary and strict action. As per rules, mock polling slips are also kept safe. However, in EVM, the mock poll is deleted i.e. zeroed and the machine is put in fresh polling mode.
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