EVM's malfunctioning a serious issue: CM

Kannur, Apr 23 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the incidents of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines(EVM's) reported from several polling stations across the state during the initial hours of polling is a 'serious issue'.

Talking to newspersons after casting his vote at RC Amala UP school at Pinarayi in Kannur district, Mr Vijayan said the Election Commission did not take the issue seriously that led to complaints about the malfunctioning of the EVM's from several polling booths.

Mr Vijayan, along with wife Kamala VIjayan and two children Veena and Vivek, reached the polling booth near his house at Pinarayi around 0740 hrs. Due to the malfunctioning of EVMs, the poll process was disrupted for few minutes that led to the formation of long queue of voters to cast their franchise.

"The fight is between the LDF and the UDF in all the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State. The BJP will be in the third place in all the constituencies," Mr Vijayan claimed.

The attempt to create communal divide and riots in the state during the election campaign by some political parties was aimed to gain ground in Kerala and it will not succeed here, he said.

Mr Vijayan also said "Kerala is a role model for other States for maintaining law and order during election process" and he appealed to voters to maintain this situation.