Violent clash in Saoner, complaint about cash distribution in Katol

Nagpur: Polling in Nagpur rural was marked by an incident of violence in Saoner assembly constituency. Congress workers attacked a vehicle carrying BJP Saoner candidate Rajiv Potdar near Sillewada after which a violent clash ensued. Saoner police have registered a case of rioting against workers of both parties.

Congress workers smashed the front glass of Potdar’s car with a chair. Police has registered a case of molestation against Potdar and his supporters following a complaint by women Congress supporters.

In Katol , NCP alleged that supporters of BJP candidate Charan Singh Thakur were distributing money in Khairi village. They lodged a complaint with the flying squad. Kondhali police had no information of this complaint.

In 2014 average polling percentage of Nagpur rural 67.22%. This time the percentage was 62.62%, a drop of about 4.5%.

Senior Congress leader Avinash Pande alleged that in booth no. 337 of Ramtek constituency, the EVM and VVPAT were malfunctioning. When voters pressed the first button, the VVPAT slip was showing the election symbol of another candidate.

Complaints of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs were received from many places. Two cases of bogus voting in Hingna constituency also came to light.

Polling at St Xavier High School, Hingna, started one hour late due to fault in EVM. Overall, EVMs had to be changed at four booths (nos 101, 10, 342, 345) in Hingna constituency. Twenty VVPATs had to be changed due to humid weather.

In SRPF camp booth no. 202 someone had cast vote of traffic police sub-inspector (PSI) Gavai. When he complained, the booth presiding officer allowed him to cast his vote through ballot paper. Similar thing happened at Kanholibara booth no. 256 where somebody had already cast the vote of Wasudeo Bunde. He had to vote through ballot paper.

Satyapal Raut, a patient of kidney, liver and heart ailments, exercised his franchise in a polling booth in Balaji Nagar, Digdoh. He had to be brought to the booth on a wheelchair.

In Saoner, over 10 EVMs or VVPATs malfunctioned. Voting resumed after they were replaced. There was a delay of one hour at the booth. The presiding officer extended the polling time up to 7pm.

In booth no. 3 of Nagalwadi, polling was held up for three times in morning hours as EVM malfunctioned. There were minor problems in booth nos 81, 82, 84, 334, 226, 5, 344 and 52 of Saoner constituency.

There were rumours that a clip of CM Devendra Fadnavis had been edited and instead of “Hey gundancha rajya nahi ahe” (this is not a state of hooligans) it sounded “He kunbyancha rajya nahi ahe” (this is not a state of Kunbis). Supporters of Saoner Congress MLA Sunil Kedar had allegedly made this clip viral among Kunbis to make them vote for Congress.

In Ramtek, EVMs malfunctioned at three places but soon they were replaced. No reports of malfunctioning were received from Umred constituency.