JOIN USHe has demanded that the election commission should recount the votes and order a re-poll for Bidar Assembly constituency, if found necessary.
Suryakanth lost the poll battle to Raheem Khan of the Congress.
Addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Tuesday, Nagamarapalli said the control unit (51786) which was utilised for the Bidar Lok Sabha constituency was taken up for counting of votes of the assembly constituency. Similar mistake was done with counting of EVMs of booth 24,54 and 62 as well. “Despite our demand the returning officer and deputy commissioner did not take measures to rectify the mistakes”, he alleged.
Suryakanth said the returning officer himself had admitted to the mistake committed. But, despite his (the candiate’s) plea not to declare the result, the returning officer declared the results without attending to the mistake.
Suryakanth has also filed a petition to the CEO seeking recounting of votes. He also demanded that the Commission should order for re-poll in the constituency if found necessary. He also said that if the Commission’s reply to his demands was not satisfactory he would move the High Court.
Chief Electoral Officer M N Vidyashankar said that Nagamarapalli had raised the objections on EVMs at the time of counting itself. And it was rejected.
Three EVMs were inter-changed. As soon as the mistake was noticed the observer and Deputy Commissioner attended to it and rectified the mistake. “I have received reports from both the observer and DC in this connection. They have confirmed me that they rectified the mistake. The candidate’s objection was rejected at their level itself”, he said.