The counting of votes for the Davangere bypoll witnessed an unusual delay on Tuesday morning after officials misplaced the keys to the strong rooms where postal ballots were stored. The incident occurred at the counting centre, forcing authorities to break the locks to access the ballots.
Counting Delayed by Over 30 Minutes
According to election officials, the counting of postal ballots was scheduled to begin at 7:30 AM. However, the process was delayed by more than 30 minutes as the keys to the strong rooms could not be located. After a brief search, the decision was taken to break the locks to proceed with the counting.
Official Statements
District election officer R. Selvamani confirmed the development, stating that the keys were misplaced temporarily. He assured that the integrity of the ballots was not compromised and that all protocols were followed while breaking the locks. The counting of postal ballots resumed after the delay, and the counting of EVM votes proceeded as per schedule later in the day.
The bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of former MLA S.S. Mallikarjun, who vacated the seat after being elected to the Lok Sabha. The contest witnessed a multi-cornered fight involving candidates from the Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
Political Reactions
Opposition parties seized upon the incident, questioning the preparedness of the election machinery. Congress leaders alleged negligence, while the BJP demanded a thorough inquiry. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the district administration.
Despite the initial hiccup, counting continued smoothly for the rest of the day. The final result is expected later tonight, with tight security arrangements in place.
