Poll Vault: Bow down before gas cylinders & then vote!

Addressing voters in Khed taluka on Monday, Amol Kolhe, renominated by the NCP (SP) from Shirur Lok Sabha constituency, appealed to voters to “touch the feet” of LPG cylinders “like we do for our elders”. Kolhe said in 2014 a gas cylinder was available for Rs 450. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had then said “we should bow down before gas cylinders and then vote”. Kolhe said today, gas cylinders’ price has crossed Rs 1,000. “Therefore people should bow down thrice before gas cylinders and then vote,” he sad.

Suffering from political fever

With a lot of political campaigning taking place online, especially on social media, police machinery is keeping a close watch on the political content on these platforms. Police teams from each police jurisdiction have been tasked with monitoring the content on social media websites and phone messenger platforms.

A police constable, who was part of such a team, tasked with monitoring these platforms, started feeling feverish after the day’s work. “It was probably because of the high temperature and not drinking enough water during the day. But a colleague of mine said I was suffering from political fever due to continuously watching political content online,” the constable said.

A holiday for PCMC employees

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has declared holiday on polling day for employees who live in Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies, which go to polls on May 13. The PCMC administration said the move is aimed at increasing the polling percentage. At the same time, PCMC chief Shekhar Singh has directed officials to make necessary steps for those employees engaged in emergency services so that they too can vote.