EC orders repoll in a polling booth in R K Nagar

The Election Commission has ordered re-poll in one of the booths in R K Nagar constituency from where Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is seeking re-election after the EC observer reported that the presiding officer allowed some voters 'not duly enrolled in the electoral roll.'

According to an official release from Chief Electoral Officer, Sandeep Saxena, "The Election Commission has stated that the its observer deputed in the constituency reported that the presiding officer of polling Station No 181 in the constituency allowed some of the voters who were not duly enrolled in the electoral roll".

"The Election Commission directed that the poll taken on June 27 at the polling station 181 has been 'vitiated' within the meaning of section 58(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," he said.

A fresh poll would be conducted at the polling station on June 29 between 8am and 5pm, he said.

"A new EVM would be used and the indelible ink would be applied on the left middle finger of the voters," Saxena said.

Yesterday, a record 74.4 per cent turnout of voters marked the bypoll that was held in the constituency with 2.43 lakh registered voters.

The by-election was necessitated by AIADMK P Vetrivel vacating the seat in May to enable Jayalalithaa seek re-election post her acquittal by the Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate assets case.

Jayalalithaa has to fulfil the constitutional requirement of getting elected as MLA within six months of becoming Chief Minister.