Representative image showing a paper ballot box and the Indian flag.
Credit: iStock Photo
Solapur: The district administration and police prevented the residents of the Markadwadi village in the Malshiras tehsil of Solapur district from conducting a mock-polling exercise on Tuesday through the traditional method of ballot papers to challenge the electronic voting machines in the wake of the surprising results in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls.
However, the event and the message have gone wider outside Maharashtra - with the issue going viral on social media platforms.
The Malshiras seat was won by Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)’s Uttamrao Jankar, who polled 1,21,713 votes against BJP’s Ram Satpute's1,08,566 votes, with a margin of 13,147 votes. Around a dozen candidates were in fray in the polls.
However, Election Commission of India data revealed that Satpute received 1,003 votes from Markadwadi village as against Jankar's 843. Markadwadi residents claimed this was not possible, and cast doubt on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The Markadwadi village has been abuzz with activities for the past few days. In the morning, the Solapur police clamped prohibitory orders under section 163 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, from December 2-5, preventing people from assembling at one place.
Besides, the police also made it clear that all the paraphernalia would be seized if attempts are made to cast votes in the mock-poll.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Narayan Shirgavkar, who is in charge of Malshiras division, said adequate security has been deployed to avoid any law and order situation in the village. "We explained to them procedures in the law and also warned that even if one vote is cast, cases will be registered," he said.
Jankar, however, intervened and held discussions with the police and villagers.
“The police made it clear that it would remove the ballot papers and boxes even if a single vote is cast. In that case, the entire exercise would be futile. I spoke to the police and the villagers… ultimately, it was decided not to go ahead with the poll. However, our fight will continue through official and legal means,” said Jankar.
Earlier, local resident Ranjit Markad claimed the village had 2,000 eligible voters on the polling day, and 1,900 of them exercised their franchise.
"The village always supported Jankar in the past. This is not possible and we do not trust these EVM numbers, that is why we decided to conduct the repoll through ballot papers," said Markad.
“In many villages, people are demanding re-polling and people have come to the streets,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, highlighting the Markadwadi issue.
“The critics of EVM, trying to expose its fraudulent manipulations, pointing out electoral irregularities, are threatened with criminal charges, coercive measures and registration of FIRs against them,” said writer and political analyst Raju Parulekar.
Maharashtra Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here
Jharkhand Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here
Bypoll 2024 results | Check Karnataka results here
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls took place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP went up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress tried to make their mark. Maha Yuti are currently comfortably poised to win. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faced a challenge after Hemant Soren's arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP, but look set to retain power with its I.N.D.I.A. allies. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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