Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopalakrishna Dwivedi has recommended to Chief Election Commission (CEC) for conducting re-polling at five polling stations. One polling station in Prakasam district and two polling stations in Guntur and Nellore each are in the list of re-polling as recommended by Dwivedi, who further said that all the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will remain in the strong rooms only.

“After considering the feedback and recommendations from all the district Collectors, we have prepared a report suggesting CEC for conducting re-polling at five polling stations in AP. We yet to receive directions from the CEC. We have also submitted a report on incidents on the polling date in Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam and Nellore districts. The Election Commission will take stringent action against officials and staff who’re negligent in their duties on the polling day.”

Responding to recent reports about shifting of EVMs from strong rooms, Dwivedi further clarified that “there’s no need to have unnecessary fears about EVMs safety. All the EVMs will remain in the strong rooms only. In this regard, the Election Commission has directed all the officials concerned in the districts. In case, we need unused EVMs for elections in other parts of the country, then those EVMs will be shifted in the presence of all the political parties, candidates, officials and media. We have deployed tight security measures at the strong rooms. Political parties have requested for additional security at the strong rooms. We have asked the DGP for a report on this. A case has already been filed against a returning official and additional returning officer for lapses in VVPAT slips. Some tried to burn slips to ensure no evidence in this case. However, District Collector checked envelope covers and found lesser number of slips. Anyway, investigation is going on.”

The Police department has filed criminal cases against Atamakur RDO Chinaramudu, assistant election officer, Tehsildar Vidyasagar for malpractices in VVPAT slips issue.