The Election Commission of India emerged as the biggest loser at the end of polling on Monday for four Lok Sabha constituencies and 10 assembly constituencies. The byelections became necessary after the seats fell vacant following the demise of the sitting MPs and MLAs and resignation of one sitting MP.

A large number of complaints were received about malfunctioning of both Electronic Voting Machines as well as VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Trail) from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies of Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia and Kairana, respectively. In many booths polling had to be suspended and local EC officials blamed the malfunction on the ‘heat factor’ and ended up inviting ridicule.

A more serious allegation was made by Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel, who said the party had complained against using EVMs brought from Surat in Gujarat and they were the ones which were reportedly acting up. He demanded the election be scrapped and held again with paper ballots. Similar complaints were made by both the Shiv Sena in Palghar and from the Rashtriya Lok Dal candidate at Kairana, Tabassum Hasan.