Voting at the Makkal Mandram polling centre in Tiruchirappalli West was delayed on Wednesday after a malfunction was reported in the VVPAT unit attached to the electronic voting machine.
Two polling booths for Wards 61 and 63 of the Tiruchirappalli Corporation had been set up at the venue. Polling began at 7 am, and Minister K.N. Nehru arrived to vote at around 7.08 am, but was unable to cast his ballot due to the fault.
Election officials were informed, and replacement VVPAT units were brought and installed at about 7.20 am in both booths. As a result, polling at the centre resumed after a delay of around 35 minutes.
The election officer, Salai Thavavalavan, visited the booth to review the situation. Minister Nehru and more than 100 voters reportedly waited and then voted once the machines were restored.
The report also noted that the delay meant the minister cast his vote after 7.30 am, following the end of the “Yamagandam” time window cited for the morning.
