Karnataka Election: The Chunavana App will guide voters from their location to the polling station. (PTI)
The Election Commission in Karnataka announced a new app today which will smooth the voting process for the people in the state. The app is one of the firsts introduced in the assembly elections for the 224-seat state, along with "pink booths" for women and third generation Electronic Voting Machines.
The Chief Election Officer tweeted this morning to announce the app, requesting voters to download it:
"Chunavana App will guide you to the polling station from your current location, help you search for information using your EPIC number and name, find out your polling booth, book a wheelchair, know your candidate and a lot more. Download and make use of Chunavana App," the tweet read..
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Election Commission has also used the third-generation 'M3 EVMs' following opposition allegations of tampering of voting machines over the last year. Five constituencies in state capital Bengaluru have been chosen for the pilot project -- Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar, Gandhi Nagar and Rajaji Nagar.
Karnataka Election: 450 "pink booths" called 'Sakhi' have been set up. (PTI)
Allegations of EVM tampering have already come from the Congress camp
. State Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa tweeted: "There are 5 booths opposite my Parent's apartment at RMV II Stage, Bengaluru. In the 2nd booth, any button pressed registers a vote ONLY to kiwi mele Kamala i.e Kamal ke phool. Angry voters are returning without casting their vote."
Another tweet from him read: "So far we have received 3 complaints of malfunctioning EVM/VVPAT across the State including from Ramanagara, Chamarajpet and Hebbal. The INC is taking up these issues with the EC".
Till 1 pm,
36 per cent voting has taken place in the state, where the Congress and the BJP are fighting a tough battle to form the next government. Both parties have claimed they will win with absolute majority. So has HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal Secular, which is the other key party in the state.
Opinion polls have predicted a split verdict in the state, where Mr Deve Gowda's JDS will be the deciding factor. Mr Deve Gowda has refused to team up with either the Congress or the BJP.