Polling agent arrested for influencing voters inside Faridabad booth: Election Commission
FARIDABAD: A polling agent in Faridabad near Delhi was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly influenced voters in the sixth round of the national election. The action was taken against the official after a video on Twitter was brought to the notice of the Haryana election body.
The video shows a man in blue t-shirt sitting at his table inside a polling booth at Asaoti in Faridabad Lok Sabha seat's Prithla. Women voters can be seen standing in a queue inside the room. The man walks up to the voting compartment as a woman prepares to cast her vote, appears to press a button on the voting machine before returning to his seat. He repeats the act with two other women.
In the video, no other official present in the room tried to stop the man from going to the voting compartment.
"Prompt action taken. FIR lodged. Person behind bars. Observer enquired the matter personally and is satisfied that polling was never vitiated (sic)," the District Election Office in Faridabad tweeted after the Haryana election body instructed them to take action. The local election office said the polling agent was trying to influence "at least 3 lady voters".
ये विडियो किसी ने भेजा है और हरियाणा के फरीदाबाद का होने का दावा किया है| इससे क्या फर्क पड़ता है कि ये कब का और कहाँ का है? लेकिन हैरान और दुखी हूँ ये देखकर कि सिस्टम कई बार कितना नपुंसक हो जाता है? ये नीच हरकत है? pic.twitter.com/R8SRQ6U5aP
— Anurag Dhanda (@anuragdhanda) May 12, 2019
Though the election body admitted that the man was trying to influence voters, it said the polling process was not affected. As questions are being raised as to how the the poll body is claiming that the voting process was not vitiated citing that the agent influenced only three voters, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said, "The scrutiny of this polling station will be comprehensive."
The Election Commission of India said it sent the Faridabad election observer to the booth for a probe. Based on the election body's complaint, the man was arrested by the police on Sunday evening and has been charged for alleged booth capturing.
A BJP polling agent has been arrested by Palwal Police for trying to influence voters at a polling booth in Asaoti, which falls under the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency, on Sunday. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/bjksDe7pdm
— Sakshi Dayal (@sakshi_dayal) May 13, 2019
Courtesy: ndtv.com
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My party will complete 5-year term, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that the Congress government would complete its five-year term, while sidestepping questions on whether he personally would remain in office for the full duration.
Addressing reporters here, he maintained that decisions on the leadership would rest with the party high command and refrained from giving a direct answer on his own tenure.
“Our party will complete five years,” Siddaramaiah said, when asked if he would complete a full term as Chief Minister.
On the issue of leadership, he reiterated that the final call would be taken by the party leadership, saying, “The high command will decide. There’s no point asking the same thing again.”
Indicating his readiness to travel to the national capital if required, he said, “If I am called to Delhi, I will go,” adding that he would seek an appointment with Rahul Gandhi if needed.
The talks on leadership change have intensified in the power corridor of the state where claims were made that Siddaramaiah would make way for his Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The Chief Minister also underlined that recent by-election victories in Bagalkote and Davanagere South assembly segment reflected public support for the government, stating that this clearly shows that people have appreciated the Congress government and its programmes.
The CM also dismissed the opposition’s claims, alleging they lacked strategy, and said local body elections would be conducted as per rules.
