Faulty Voting Machines In Gujarat Replaced, Says Election Commission

Amid allegations by the Congress that electronic voting machines or EVMs malfunctioned in several parts of Gujarat in the first phase of assembly elections today, the Election Commission said on Saturday afternoon that about 0.5 per cent of the total ballot units and control units - which make up the EVM - had to be replaced during voting. That is about 181 ballot units and 223 control units, apart from 714 VVAPT or the voter verified paper audit trail machines.

Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti said, "Overall number looks large, but as proportion of total much less machines were found faulty. They were replaced."

Brushing off the Congress allegations, Union minister Arun Jaitley said, "I cannot help but say they are alibis in preparation for a possible defeat". After the voting ended at 5 pm, the minister said, "The BJP estimates that we will not only get a comfortable but a landslide win. In most places, people of all sections have supported the BJP".

Gujarat Election 2017: Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat voted in Phase 1 of Gujarat polls.