Assam is presently witnessing the Assembly Election season and in yet another bizarre case of irregularity, only 90 voters cast 171 votes at a polling booth in the state.
According to the information, this irregularity took place in front of the five polling personnel, who were just assigned 90 voters for the day, have been suspended. However, these voters ended up locking the fate of candidates with 171 votes.
Taking note of the matter, the Dima Hasao District Election Officer has ordered to re-conduct the election at the 107 (A) Khotlir Lower Primary School polling booth in the Haflong Assembly where voting took place on April 1 in the second round of elections. However, the matter came into light on April 4 evening.
The fickled booth was actually an additional booth of the main polling station at Mouldam Lower Primary School nearby.
During the second phase of the election in the constituency, the booth reported less voting percentage than before.
Polling officers on duty have been issued the suspension order citing delinquency in duty on April 2 with immediate effect. The officers have been identified as sector officer Seikhosiem Lhangum, presiding officer Prahlad Chandra Roy, first polling officer Parameswar Charangsa, second polling officer Swaraj Kanti Das and third polling officer Lalzamlo Thiek.
As per the statement of district official, polling officers had asked the villagers who came to vote at the booth to come with their own list of voters.
However, a chief of a remote village did not entertain the official voters' list and the villagers had no option left except to cast their votes as per the demand of one chief. It has not been ascertained yet why the polling officials allowed the villagers to cast votes in their way.