Amid the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a case has been registered against Maharashtra Women’s Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar, who belongs to the NCP, and seven others, for allegedly conducting a ‘puja’ of An electronic voting machine inside a polling booth in Khadakwasla segment under Baramati Lok. Sabha constituency, news agency PTI reported.
“Rupali Chakankar and others defied the orders of the polling station chairman in the Sinhgad Road area, entered and performed the ‘puja’ of the EVM this morning,” a police officer said, PTI reported.
Following a complaint filed by an Election Commission official, a case was registered under Sections 131 (Panishment for disorderly conduct at or near polling stations) and 132 (Punishment for misconduct at polling stations). electoral) of the Representation of the People Law of 1951.
While Chakankar belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the other seven include one member each from the rival camps of the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The contest for Baramati constituency is being closely watched as it is the first time that members of the Pawar clan are facing each other after the split in the Nationalist Congress Party.
Sharad Pawar’s daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule is locked in a bitter fight with her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar.
Meanwhile, police in Raigad district of Maharashtra registered a non-cognizable case against a voter who reeled in his mobile phone while casting his vote during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday and then posted it on social media platforms. , an official said, reported. PTI.
The incident occurred in the afternoon at polling booth No. 244 in Revdanda when voting for Raigad Lok Sabha constituency was being held, he said, reported PTI.
A voter, Prasad Sharad Gondhali, took out his mobile phone and recorded the process of casting his vote and also voting for a particular candidate, the official said, PTI reported.
After recording the video of the process and making reels of it, the accused allegedly showed it on his Instagram account and also put it as a status message on his WhatsApp, he said, reported PTI.
As his act violated secrecy norms related to the voting process, a complaint was lodged against him on behalf of the government at the Revdanda police station, PTI reported.
Accordingly, a non-cognizable case was registered against the elector, he said.
(With input from PTI)