The Election Commission on Thursday ordered repoll in seven polling stations in Tamil Nadu and two in Kerala.

The repoll would take place on April 16, an EC official said. The repoll has been ordered in view of malfunctioning of EVMs in some places and also minor skirmishes in certain areas.

Polling in both states went off peacefully except for minor incidents.

Poll officials in Tamil Nadu said yesterday that the polling in the state could be between 75 and 80 per cent.

Kerala has recorded 75.12 per cent voter turn out in the elections.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said in a statement in Chennai that repolling would be held in seven polling stations in five constituencies on April 16.

Repolling would be in two polling stations in Samathikuppam (Neyveli constituency - Cuddalore district), one in Ananthamangalam (Killiur- Kanyakumari) two in Valaiyavuttam and Paruthikodi (Thiruvadaimarudur - Thanjavur district), one in Arni (Arni- Tiruvanamalai district) and one in Sangarapuram (Bodinaikanur- Theni district), he said.

The repolls were necessitated due to various reasons, including defective display of EVMs, damage of EVMs by unruly elements and also boycott by voters of Thiruvidaimarudur due to wrong placement of polling stations.

Indelible ink would be applied in the left middle finger of voters and new EVMs would be used for repoll, he said.

He also said polling stations in Thanjavur district would be re-located in consultation with the candidates.

Kumar said residents of these constituencies who missed voting on April 13 could also cast their votes.