In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections of 2024, the third phase of voting has concluded in Madhya Pradesh. However, today, once again, voting is underway at 4 polling booths in Betul. The reason behind this decision by the Election Commission stems from a fire incident that occurred on a returning bus after the elections.
Resumption of Voting in Betul
Voting is once again underway in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, where four polling booths in the Multai Assembly constituency are active today. The voting commenced at these centers from 7 a.m. onwards. It’s worth noting that due to a fire incident on a returning bus after the elections conducted on May 7th, the Election Commission ordered a re-voting in these areas.
Polling Booths in Operation
The four polling booths where voting is being conducted again in Betul include:
- Booth Number 275 – Rajapur
- Booth Number 276 – Dudar Rayat
- Booth Number 279 – Kunda Rayat
- Booth Number 280 – Chikhlimal
Use of Fingerprint Ink
After casting their votes, voters have ink applied to their index fingers. However, due to the re-voting at these polling centers in Betul, ink is now being applied to the middle finger of voters instead of the index finger. This is because during the voting on May 7th, ink had already been applied to the index finger of voters at these polling booths. To avoid any confusion, the Election Commission decided to use the middle finger for ink application this time.
Incident of Bus Fire
During the third phase of elections on May 7th, a bus carrying polling officers caught fire after the voting was completed. The fire resulted in the destruction of election material, including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. It’s notable that the bus was carrying polling officers from six polling centers, and only four of them suffered damage due to the fire. As a precautionary measure, re-voting is being conducted at these four polling booths today.
The resumption of voting in Betul underscores the Election Commission’s commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process. Despite challenges such as the unfortunate incident of the bus fire, efforts are being made to uphold the integrity of the democratic process and enable citizens to exercise their right to vote freely and safely.