Pune EVM Malfunctions Disrupt Voting in Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Voting in Pune faced significant disruptions during the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 due to malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at several polling centers.

Technical glitches marred the voting process in Pune during the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, with several polling centers experiencing malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Among the affected centers was the Anna Saheb School in Kothrud, where technical issues led to delays in the voting process, causing frustration among the electorate.

Local residents expressed anger over the poor preparation by the authorities, highlighting the substantial increase in the number of voters in Pune district, including Pune city, over the past five years.

Since the 2019 state assembly elections, the number of voters has risen by over 11 lakhs, prompting the addition of 608 polling stations in the 2024 assembly elections to accommodate the growing electorate.

In a tweet, a user shared a video showcasing the faulty EVM machine in Kothrud, Pune, and highlighted the technical issues at the Anna Saheb School center.

Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections commenced at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm across 288 assembly constituencies.

A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde), and NCP (under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar), will face off against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (led by Sharad Pawar).

The elections have witnessed a significant rise in the number of candidates compared to the 2019 state assembly elections, with a total of 4,136 candidates vying for 288 seats—an increase of 28% from the previous election.