Markadwadi village: Winning candidate, villagers plan ballot paper repoll, backtrack after cops step in

The constituency is considered Jankar’s stronghold. In the November 20 state polls, the results of which were declared on November 2, Jankar defeated sitting BJP legislator Ram Satpute by 13,147 votes.

But in Markadwadi, he polled fewer votes than Satpute – 843 against 1,003.

And so, he and some villagers decided to hold the mock repoll right opposite the gram panchayat office.

Around 7 am, 44-year-old village resident Vijay Waghmode joined some 400 others at the venue. Waghmode claimed the village has “always stood by” Jankar, which is why “everyone was taken aback by the polling outcome”.

He claimed some villagers had suggested the idea to Jankar, and he “extended his support”. “We collected donations from villagers to hold the process,” Waghmode said.

A total of Rs 2.1 lakh was spent on printing six polling flex boards, erected across the village, 2,400 ballot papers and other material required for polling. The “ballot papers” had the names of all candidates and party symbols in the same sequence as they appeared on EVMs. Five “booths” were also prepared.

The flex boards stated that on December 3, from 8am to 4pm, a transparent ballot poll will be held in Markadwadi village and that the verification process would be done in the presence of the media. The boards also requested all canddidates to be present on the occassion “to save democracy and the Constitution”. It stated that the counting would be held the same day from 4pm to 5pm.

Jankar said, “We requested the district administration for manpower and other machinery for the election but it was turned down, saying there is no provision in the Constitution to do such a thing.”

Jankar also claimed it was the villagers’ idea and he merely extended support. “There is no legal sanctity for the polling. It was an exercise taken up by villagers to express their doubts over EVMs,” he claimed.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Narayan Shirgavkar said they had a detailed meeting with villagers and Jankar. “We explained to them the procedures in the law and also warned that even if one vote is cast, cases will be registered,” Shirgavkar said.

From Sunday night, police deployment was increased in the village.

BJP’s Ram Satpute termed the whole exercise a conspiracy and alleged that “we have an audio clip of Jankar’s supporters urging voters to participate in ballot polling and stand behind their leader”.

State NCP chief Jayant Patil, when asked about the proposed exercise, said, “It wasn’t Jankar but the villagers from Markadwadi who decided to hold a ballot poll to clear their doubts over polling through EVMs.”

State Congress chief Nana Patole said “the administration acted wrongly in Markadwadi, further deepening the mistrust surrounding EVMs… they should have allowed the voting to proceed”.

“What was the need to stop paper ballot in Markadwadi? Was the government afraid that the truth will come out? The authoritarian behaviour of the government will not stop this fight but will only intensify it. The people will now rise to expose EVMs,” said NCP MLA Rohit Pawar.