the goan I network
PANAJI
On Saturday, a serious lapse by the Presiding Officer had forced the Election Commission to order the re-poll.
The incident occurred after the Presiding Officer Gokuldas P Naik forgot to wipe the votes cast in the EVM during the mock polling.
A total of 50 votes were cast by the polling agents of candidates during the mock poll, but the presiding officer started actual polling without wiping off the mock poll votes.
The episode came to light only after 192 voters had
cast their votes as the votes polled could not tally with the actual voting.
Election Observer for Margao constituency Mansi Nimbhal along with Returning Officer Uday Prabhduesai rushed to the polling station to work out a solution to the problem.
It was learnt that the observer and the returning officer were ready to replace the EVM and also change the entire staff manning the polling station, including the presiding officer, but in vain.
District Collector Swapnil Naik later told the media that the election authorities were willing to continue polling in the booth, which has a total of 791 votes, as it was possible to do a break-up of the mock poll votes and actual voting on condition that the candidates agreed for continuation of polling.
