Congress urges for re-election

Alleges electoral malpractice in Khandya Zilla Panchayat constituency

Alleging that there was electoral malpractice at the Bogase polling booth No 26 at the Khandya constituency, the local Congress leaders have urged a round of re-polling.

The district Congress leader Dr D L Vijayakumar, Congress candidate Savita Ramesh and other Congress leaders submitted a complaint to the election officer.

When the candidate, Savita Ramesh visited the booth, a person – whose name did not appear in the list of voters in the constituency – had cast vote in the name of Lakshman. When inquired, it was found that the voter was not from the constituency. He, however, denied casting vote, although he had done so – the booth officials have confirmed of applying the indelible ink on his thumb for casting vote, she added.

Proxy and lie
“The man had also, apparently, lied that his sister was a taluk panchayat candidate. First, he said that he had shown his voter’s identity card as proof, but, the booth-level officers, when asked, said that the person had only shown his Aadhaar card,” said Ramesh.

It has been found that votes have been cast in the names of people who were not present in the village or who had passed away. As there is speculation of high level of electoral malpractice having been carried out at the Bogase polling booth, proper investigation should be carried out, followed by a round of re-polling, said the Congress leaders.
The complaint was submitted to the district election officer through the assistant commissioner.

District Congress Vice President H M Shridhar, General Secretary B M Sandeep and block president Dr Amshumant were present on the occasion.