THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chief Electoral Officer has come out with a an explanation on the allegation that votes cast for ‘Hand’ went to ‘Lotus’.

Chief Electoral officer Tikaram Meena agreed on Saturday that such an error happened in the Voting Machine used in Chowara booth. This is not a thing that happened only in Kovalam. After noticing this, reserve machine was brought in and voting was resumed.

Meena’s revelation also negates District Collector K Vasuki’s claim.

On the day of election, a person who caste vote in Kovalam Chowara Booth No.76, complained that vote cast for Hand went to Lotus. He withdrew the complaint after the electoral officer took the stand that the complainant had to prove the error in voting or else he would be booked.