2019 elections: Polling agent arrested for influencing voters in Faridabad
What's the story
In an incident which casts doubts on the fairness of elections, a man was arrested for trying to influence voters in Faridabad. The action was taken on Sunday after a video surfaced on social media. The video showed that the man either pressed the button for the voters or pointed out a symbol for them, at least thrice. Here's what went down.
What happened
It appeared that the man pressed buttons for female voters
The incident took place inside a polling booth in Asaoti in Faridabad's Prithala. The man, dressed in a blue t-shirt, can be seen sitting inside the room. As a woman moved towards the EVM, the man stood up, went to her, and purportedly pressed the button. He then returned to his bench, only to get up again. He repeated this exercise three times.
Action
Election Commissioner said the man has been arrested
The video was widely shared on social media, prompting Election Commission to take cognizance of the same. Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa revealed the man has been arrested. "DEO Faridabad reported that the observer, Sanjay Kumar investigated the entire matter. Report of the observer will be examined by ECI and action will be taken against those found wanting in their duty," Lavasa tweeted.
Twitter Post
Here is the video which went viral
एक नेता को जिताने के लिए ये तरीका सही नहीं है! ! ये संविधान, कानून और नैतिकता के खिलाफ भी है! ! ! गाँव असावटी पलवल (हरियाणा) pic.twitter.com/m2euOOBkf2
— SHAHID KURESHI (@UqAsmTfpZGNwK0e) May 12, 2019
Details
Despite video proof, Election Commission maintained polls were fair
Notably, polling agents are appointed by candidates to oversee the election process. It couldn't be immediately ascertained which party the man belonged to. Despite the obvious breach of rules, the top-polling body claimed that the "polling was never vitiated". The video also showed that none of the people present inside the booth tried to stop the man.
Twitter Post
Accused was arrested in afternoon itself: EC
The person in the video is the Polling agent who has been arrested in the afternoon itself. FIR lodged. He was trying to effect at least 3 lady voters. Observer ARO with teams visited the booth at Asawati in prithala constituency. He is satisfied that voting was never vitiated
— DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICE FARIDABAD (@OfficeFaridabad) May 12, 2019
Turnout
Meanwhile, voter turnout in Faridabad was recorded at 64.46%
The EC added it will go through the report of Faridabad election observer and then decide its next step. On a related note, the voter turnout in Haryana on Sunday was recorded at 69.50%. Ten parliamentary seats in the northern state voted in the sixth phase. The turnout in Faridabad was 64.46%. The last phase of general elections will happen on May 19.