Vijugouda Patil takes out rally demanding repoll

Vijayapura: The discovery of eight VVPATs in a shed in Jumanal village in Vijayapura district has prompted BJP leader Vijugouda Patil to take out a rally demanding the Election Commission to conduct re-polling in Babaleshwar constituency. Patil had contested from the constituency against Congress candidate M.B. Patil, and had lost. He claimed that the VVPATs discovered were of Babaleshwar constituency. He submitted a memorandum here on Monday, seeking a re-poll in the constituency. He also accused the EC officials of helping M.B. Patil win and not taking any action against his corrupt practices in the polls.

Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Shettennavar told press persons that the EC had been informed about the discovery of the VVPATs and that two officials were on their way to Vijayapura to look into the matter. He also said that the EVMs and VVPATs given by the EC were secure. Moreover, the VVPATs found did not have machines inside them and had no codes to identify the place where they were sent. However, only the EC officials could vouch for these details.