Assam polling official under scanner after video shows ‘five consecutive votes for BJP’

The office of the District Election Officer suggested that the video had been recorded during a “mock poll” before voting officially began

Following the circulation of a video that purportedly showed a polling agent in Assam’s Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency voting five times on an EVM for the BJP candidate, the District Election Officer issued a show cause notice to polling officials.

In a statement, the office of the DEO suggested that the video had been recorded during a “mock poll” before voting officially began.

“As per procedure, polling agents are allowed to cast a few votes in favour of the candidate during mock poll. Statements of other polling agents are underway and polling officials have been served show cause notice in this regard,” the statement said.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | In Barak Valley roiled by citizenship question, opening for a Muslim MP in seat

In the video doing the rounds on social media, Abdul Sahid – a polling agent for Independent candidate Abdul Hameed – can be seen pressing the button for BJP candidate and sitting MP Kripanath Mallah five times in a row.

Voting in the Karimganj constituency took place on April 26.

According to the statement from the DEO’s office, following complaints regarding the video, the matter was brought before the General Observer and the polling team was summoned. According to it, the Presiding Officer of the polling station said the video was taken during a mock poll and the votes cast were cleared before actual polling began. Abdul Sahid, the polling agent, also confirmed this, the statement said.