Photo caption.
Candidates and their representatives take a look at the Borda multipurpose strong room when the seal was broke open and re-sealed on Tuesday evening. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Perhaps for the first time in recent electoral history, the strong room housing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at the government multipurpose college building was opened after the seal was broke open in the presence of candidates and their agents.
It took just five minutes to complete the entire process of breaking open the seal and re-sealing the strong room after the EVM of booth No. 8 of Margao Assembly segment was stored inside in the presence of election officials.
Many a candidates and their election agents and representatives, including NCP chief and Vasco candidate Jose Philip D’Souza had turned up at the multipurpose centre after they were informed by the election authorities to be present at the centre during the re-sealing and sealing process.
Additional collector Johnson Fernandes, who is in-charge of the strong room, opened the collapsible gate as he is in possession of two keys, with the remaining key in custody of the Election observer.
After the seal was broke open at 7.45 pm, the EVM from booth No. 8 of Margao segment was taken inside and stored near the EVMs of the constituency. Only Margao constituency candidates and their duly authorized agents were allowed inside the strong room. “It took just five minutes to complete the entire process, before the seal was put on the collapsible gate," Johnson said.
A total of three locks were put on the collapsible gate, with two keys in custody of the Additional Collector, with the remaining key in possession of the Election observer.
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MARGAO: Former PWD minister Churchill Alemao and the Aam Aadmi Party has put up their own seal on the collapsible gate of the EVM strong room at the Borda centre with a signed sticker.
Additional Collector Johnson Fernandes informed that while AAP has put up a signed sticker as well as a lock on the collapsible gate, Churchill has put up a signed sticker on the gate. “The sticker will tear automatically if the gate is opened without any authorization," he said.
Replying to a question, Johnson said that candidates and political parties are permitted to put up their own seals and locks on the strong room collapsible gate if they so desire.
