ECI suspends four officials in Assam
Amid a political outcry and trading of charges, the Election Commission on Friday ordered suspension of four polling personnel in Ratabari (SC) assembly constituency in Assam after they violated EVM transport protocol by hitching a ride with machines following Thursday’s polling in a private car belonging to the wife of a BJP candidate from another constituency.
The EC said the personnel — presiding officer Sahab Uddin Talukdar and three others — only later found out whom the car belonged to, but they were acted against for violating rules intended to protect the sanctity of EVMs.
The polled EVMs were found intact, but the EC directed that a repoll at the polling booth concerned in Ratabari (SC) be done “as added precaution”.