Returning Officer and Observer confirm lapse

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: The Returning Officer has admitted to the clerical error made by the district officials in East district in the counting process and significantly, the same was also pointed out by the Election Observer. It was also pointed out by the Election Observer that OP Bhandari and Shakti Singh of the SDF entering the counting room at the TNA auditorium without valid passes was unwarranted.
Talking to NOW, Election Observer, SK Shilal stated that while he did not see OP Bhandari or the Deputy Mayor Shakti Singh entering the counting hall, he did see them in the room. He clarified that they should not have been allowed to enter the room and this was clearly a lapse on the part of the concerned officials.
“It was against the norms to have allowed persons without valid passes to enter the counting room,” he stated. SP East also stated that he had asked the agitating candidates to put in a formal complaint against the two gatecrashers if they wanted an enquiry.
The agitating party informed that they would also put up a complaint with the State Election Commission. It is not clear what the two had to do in the counting room.
On the clerical error regarding the serial numbers, the Election Observer, SK Shilal also explained to the delegation of representatives of the independent candidates that he had told the Returning Officer that this was their mistake which should not have occurred. As a result of this 13 panchayat wards will have re-elections.