COIMBATORE: V Senthil Balaji, the DMK candidate for the Coimbatore South constituency, conducted inspections at multiple polling booths after receiving reports of irregularities in the order of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The candidate visited the Ram Nagar Corporation Girls Higher Secondary School, where he interacted with booth agents to assess the polling situation and inquire about any discrepancies.
EVM Order Changes Detected
It was brought to the attention of Senthil Balaji that the sequence of EVMs had been altered at a few polling stations in Coimbatore South. This prompted him to personally inspect over 70 booths across the constituency. During his visit to booth number 91 at the Ram Nagar school, it was observed that the order of two EVMs had been swapped, causing delays in the voting process. The candidate promptly directed the presiding officer to rectify the issue, which was resolved on the spot.
Candidate's Statement
Speaking to the Times of India, Senthil Balaji explained, "It was brought to my notice that the EVM order was changed. Usually, prominent parties are listed in the first EVM unit, followed by independent candidates. However, in a few places, the order starting from serial numbers 17 to 31 was placed first, followed by serial numbers 1 to 16. This confusion caused voters to take longer to locate their preferred candidates. The issue was immediately addressed during my inspection. I managed to visit 70 booths, and only two to three had such problems, which were rectified."
The candidate's proactive approach ensured that the voting process proceeded smoothly at the affected booths. His swift action highlights the importance of vigilance during elections to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
