The District Administration today held the randomization of 24 additional Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines to be pumped in during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on May 19. The randomization was held in the presence of the General Election Observer for Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat Mr. I Samuel Anand Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma and representatives of the political parties here at the District Administrative Complex.Divulging the details, the Observer and Deputy Commissioner said that as per the stipulated norms 20% extra EVMs and VVPATs have to be provided to all the Assistant Returning Officers to ensure that they could cope with any situation in case of any snag on polling day. However, they said that during the preparation of the EVMs held a few days back some of the AROs have fell short of the 20% mark due to which these 24 EVMs have to be pumped in. They said that out of these 24, 10 would be allotted to Shahkot, eight to Jalandhar West, three to Jalandhar North and three to Adampur.
Pertinently, the final randomization of the EVMs was held a few days back for 4299 Ballot Units, 2180 Control Units and 2332 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines which would be installed at 1863 polling booths during the by-poll.Meanwhile, interacting with the representatives of the political parties the General Observer and Deputy Commissioner reiterated that the district administration was duty-bound to ensure smooth and hassle free polling process in Jalandhar. They apprised the political parties that elaborate arrangement have been put at place in Jalandhar by the administration for this purpose. They said that no stone would be left unturned for ensuring that free and fair election process was completed in the district.The General Observer and Deputy Commissioner said that already series of trainings have been conducted to apprise the poll staff about the handling of these machines in a proper manner. They said that the purpose was to ensure smooth and hassle free conduct of elections in Jalandhar district.On the occasion Assistant Commissioner Mr. Varjeet Singh Walia, District Information Officer Mr. Amolak Singh Kalsi, Election Tehsildar Mr. Manjeet Singh and others were also present.