Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is witnessing a high turnout for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The voter participation has reached 50% in the whole of Kerala. Pathanamthitta and Wayanad is leading other constituencies in Kerala with the highest turnout.
Reports from across the state say that five persons have collapsed and died while standing in queues to cast their vote.
In a bid to malign the election process the opposition came out in protest that the EVMs are faulty. However, the Election Commissioner and District Collectors have rejected the accusation as baseless.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Tikaram Meena, has said that the accusation that the EVMs are faulty has no credibility and asked the leaders to desist from making such false propaganda. He asked those leaders to allow the people to vote without doubts.
Incidentally, the Commissioner also warned those who are making the claims of faulty machines must also have the responsible to prove it. Otherwise, the Commission will take action against those who are spreading false complaints under IPC Section 177.
The presiding officer must inform the complaint that he/she will be charged if the claim is false. If the complainant is adamant then the person should sign a declaration form. However, the complaint is found to be fake then immediate action must be taken against the complainant.
Meanwhile, rumours spread in Kovalam that EVMs were hacked in some polling booths.
The Election Officer in Thiruvananthapuram and District Collector, K. Vasuki, have said that those were fake news and asked the people not to believe in it.
