It seems the election commission’s disastrous performance is continuing in the 2nd phase as well. It is known news that electronic voting machines malfunctioning severely impacted voters in Andhra Pradesh and there were even incidents when voters raised slogans of “Election commission, down down”. Now, during the second phase of elections also, EVM machines gave troubles at many places and many voters returned without exercising their right to vote.

In Tamilnadu where bi-elections to assembly also being held along with parliament elections, almost 384 EVM machines had to be replaced after malfunction complaints. Almost 692 vvpat machines also had to be replaced. In Bangalore, almost 1 lakh people could not vote as their names not found in electoral rolls. Around 60 EVM machines gave troubles in Karnataka. In Maharashtra also the situation was no different and more than 30 complaints were are made regarding electronic voting machines malfunctioning.

It seems, in the last 20 years this is the most mismanaged election and election commission got more criticism this time than any other previous elections in the last 20 years.