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EVM glitches extend poll time in Andhra Pradesh

Mr Dwivedi said all voters who were in the queue by 6 pm would be allowed to cast their votes.

VIJAYAWADA: Voters in several constituencies had to wait for long hours in the hot sun with EVMs malfunctioning in nearly 400 polling centres statewide. In many of these booths, polling went on till long past the 5 pm closing time.

In the most exceptional instances, the VVPAT did not function when AP Chief Electoral Officer G.K. Dwivedi went to vote at the Municipal High School in Christianpet of Tadepalli in Amaravati.

This polling station, part of the Mangalagiri, seemed to typify the problems: Polling in the seat, where minister and TD candidate Nara Lokesh is constesting against YSRC’s sitting legislator Alla Ramakrishna Reddy is expected to go on till midnight.

Voting did not start in Jakkampudi YSR Colony, Christianpet, Gudivada, Mangalagiri and other polling centres in time, and the scorching sun only made things worse. Queues were seen at these constituencies till late at night.

Mr Dwivedi said all voters who were in the queue by 6 pm would be allowed to cast their votes.

Polling started at 7 pm but the EVMs in nearly 400 polling centres failed to function. Technical teams plunged into action and started rectifying the EVMs. However, in several centres, polling did not start even by midday.

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