Electronic voting machines disrupt polling in many booths

THRISSUR: An hour after the start of the second phase of the local body elections in Kerala, there has been widespread malfunction in the voting machines at many places. Voting in some polling stations were delayed. In other places, the voting machines went out of order within minutes of the start of voting.

The electronic voting machines malfunctioned at Ramanthali GM UP School in Kannur, Ramanattukara Ganapat UP School, Mukkam Municipality Thazhakode Govt LP School, St Antony's LP School in Chakkittapara Panchayat, Beypore West Govt LP School in Kozhikode and Hidayath English Medium School in Pappinisseri.

Voting will be till 6 pm today. It was informed the other day that everyone in the queue will be allowed to vote when the time ends. Repolling at the Alappuzha Mannancherry Govt High School booth, where the voting machine malfunctioned in the first phase, is also today. The counting of votes will be held everywhere on Saturday.

Meantime, policemen who came drunk in Kanhangad were ousted from the polling station. The action is against Sanoop John and Nishad, senior civil police officers of the Kanhangad control room. The two came drunk for duty last night. An investigation has been initiated against the two on the complaint of the presiding officer.