Bengal Poll Officer Sleeps Over At Trinamool Leader's Home With EVM, Suspended

The Election Commission has said that the reserve EVM and VVPAT have now been taken out of stock and won't be used in the polls.

The Election Commission has suspended a poll official in West Bengal's Howrah district after an electronic voting machine (EVM) and VVPAT were found at the residence of his relative, a Trinamool Congress leader. The errant officer had apparently slept over at the politician's home. Charges for major punishment will now be framed against the official, authorities have said. Police officials attached to him will also face action, they said. The Election Commission has said that the particular reserve EVM and VVPAT have now been taken out of stock and will not be used in the polls. West Bengal votes today in the third of its eight-phased Assembly polls. The Commission informed today that Tapan Sarkar, the deputed officer for Howrah's Sector 17 in AC 177 Uluberia Uttar, went with a reserve EVM to sleep at a relative's home.