Reacting to the news item “PO admits malpractice in 25 Khekiye polling station 34 Aghunato A/C”, the Presiding Officer (PO) of the polling station has clarified that the statement which was given to the Returning Officer (RO) was not written in “favour of any political party” but an account of events and incidents which resulted to “an untimely closure of polling at 1 p.m.”
In a statement, the PO said presiding officers were “not, in any way, aware” which candidate the voters intended to cast their vote for.
He has also refuted the allegation that the PO “illegally deprived” Congress supporters of exercising their franchise. He reiterated that the EVM was closed due to “threats and possible violence.”
Meanwhile, the election agent of the NPF candidate from 34 Aghunato A/C Kaito Yeptho has also refuted allegations of malpractices and booth capturing during polling at 25 Khekiye. Kaito said there was “a fair poll” with around 325 out of 511 voters exercising their franchise.
He argued that if there were any instance of booth capturing, the total number of votes cast would have been above 500.
Kaito claimed that “violence and gunfire” happened outside and not within the parameter of the polling station as alleged and stated that the same was witnessed by the sectoral magistrate.
He also alleged that the PO was threatened and was forced to appear before the RO on February 24 and was made to “retrack his earlier report/diary.”
He further claimed that the report made later contradicted the report submitted along with the sealed EVM on February 23.
Stating that the PO’s statement was “misleading,” Kaito said the Congress should “accept an honorable defeat.”
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