After the ruckus and controversy over the EVM dispute in Varanasi, major action has been taken by the administration. ADM Supplies Nalinikant Singh, who was made the nodal officer for EVMs, has been removed from the election work. He has also been banned from going to the counting venue tomorrow.
For the whole controversy, the administration admitted that the EVMs were taken for training without any information on Tuesday from the counting site at Pahariya Mandi. District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma has found negligence on his part in the investigation conducted after the dispute. After this the action has taken place.
Now Sanjay Kumar has been made the nodal officer of EVM, ADM Finance and Revenue. ADM Supplies has been ordered that neither he will participate in the election work nor he will go to the counting place. According to sources, action can also be taken against him by the Election Commission till late evening.
It is worth mentioning that on Tuesday evening, near the counting place of Pahariya Mandi, the SPs created a ruckus alleging rigging after they caught the EVM laden pickup vehicle going for training. In the premises including the main gate of Mandi, Sapai sat on dharna at various places. There was a scuffle with the security forces when they tried to enter the EVM strong room twice by breaking the barricading.
Amidst the sloganeering, the Pandeypur-Pahariya road was blocked in front of Mandi. There was also stone pelting. The demonstration started around 6 pm. The ruckus had reached from Pahariya to Pilikothi. There was also a demonstration. The administration took control of the situation and at around three o’clock in the morning all the EVMs loaded on the pickup were shown openly in front of the candidates. After this all the candidates were satisfied and the administration also breathed a sigh of relief. However, considering the movement of EVMs as negligence, the nodal officer has been removed from the election work.