Counting uncertainties continue in Wadakkanchery

THRISSUR: The

poll

outcome in Wadakkanchery Assembly seat in Thrissur district remained uncertain even in the late afternoon as the counting officials were not able to retrieve the poll data stored in it.
The snag has caused an intense suspense as the UDF candidate Anil Akkara has secured a lead of only just three votes while the machine which has developed snag is reported to contain 961 votes.

The district level election officials have referred the crisis to the Election Commission authorities in Delhi. The machine which had developed the snag had recorded the votes from the booth number 91 of Puttekkara area in Kaiparambu Panchayat

According to the district level officials they were awaiting a decision from the Election Commission whether to go for a re-poll in the ward or make another attempt to transfer the data to separate machine and retrieve the data.
The UDF leaders have requested the poll officials to make another attempt to retrieve the data from the machine. They however said they were open for a re-poll also as they were confident of their support base in the area. The LDF leaders also said they would accept the decision of the Commission whether it is for a re-poll or for recounting. The BJP leaders have however demanded a repoll.

The poll outcome in the seat is crucial for both the UDF and LDF in different ways. The LDF has already won in 12 of the 13 seats in Thrissur district and a victory in Wadakkancehry would mean a complete sweep in the district. On the other side a victory in Wadakkancehry is a life and death struggle for the UDF, as a defeat here would mean the front will not have any representative from the district in the state Assembly.

The State Election Commission officials said a decision on the counting process in Wadakkancehry was expected in the next couple of hours.