Dec 09, 2017 11:47 (IST)
EMVs glitch in Surat, a Patel-dominated area
Some electronic voting machines or EVMs were reported faulty in Surat, an area seen as strategically vital in this election because it is dominated by the Patels, a caste seen as upset with the ruling BJP which has governed Gujarat for 22 years in a row. The Election Commission said the faulty EVMs have been replaced. The malfunctioning EVMs were placed in 16 rural and urban constituencies of Surat, seen as a stronghold of Patidar quota agitation Hardik Patel. Mr Patel has asked the influential Patidar or Patel community to reject the BJP for failing to extend affirmative action policies to them.
A group of Patidars protest as BJP's Reshma Patel arrives to vote in Junagadh in the Gujarat assembly election 2017, news agency ANI reported. Reshma Patel is a former Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti or PAAS convenor who later joined the BJP. She was opposed by many PAAS supporters when she went to cast her vote in Jhanjharda village in Junagadh district.
Some electronic voting machines or EVMs were reported faulty in Surat, an area seen as strategically vital in this election because it is dominated by the Patels, a caste seen as upset with the ruling BJP which has governed Gujarat for 22 years in a row. The Election Commission said the faulty EVMs have been replaced. The malfunctioning EVMs were placed in 16 rural and urban constituencies of Surat, seen as a stronghold of Patidar quota agitation Hardik Patel. Mr Patel has asked the influential Patidar or Patel community to reject the BJP for failing to extend affirmative action policies to them.
A group of Patidars protest as BJP's Reshma Patel arrives to vote in Junagadh in the Gujarat assembly election 2017, news agency ANI reported. Reshma Patel is a former Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti or PAAS convenor who later joined the BJP. She was opposed by many PAAS supporters when she went to cast her vote in Jhanjharda village in Junagadh district.