Bhanjanagar: On receipt of information about alleged vandalisation of EVM machines and rigging in Retang booth belonging to the Sorada Assembly constituency, Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange inspected Wednesday the security of strongrooms at Sorada, Bhanjanagar and Aska. Sub-Collector Rajendar Kumar Minj and Tahasildar Dinamani Nayak accompanied the Collector him.
Polling in three constituencies – Aska, Bhanjanagar and Soroda –had taken place April 18 after which 772 EVMs and VVPAT machines were sealed in these strongrooms.
The officers of the Election Commission may open the strongrooms if the situation demands. The Election Commission is yet to take a decision on re-polling in the booth where the alleged vandalism took place. So the machines which were vandalised have also been kept in the strongroom.
The counting of votes will take place on the premises of Bhanjanagar College amid tight security, May 23. Candidates and their supporters are eagerly waiting for the results. Over-enthusiastic workers of all the political parties are also keeping a vigil on the strongroom to prevent any untoward incident from happening.
According to sources, the EVMs and VVPAT machines are in the strongrooms covered by a three-tier security layer.