As 96 constituencies went to vote across the country on May 13, four states reported violations at the polling booth or harassment of voters reportedly by the BJP. From Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh to Telangana to Jharkhand, in various instances BJP leaders and candidates have been witnessed trying to harass or influence voters unjustly.
Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh
A case of alleged violation has emerged from Uttar Pradesh where a voter in the state’s Lakhimpur Kheri claimed that she cast her vote for the Samajwadi Party, however the slip that came printed out of the VVPAT was for the BJP and not the SP. Interestingly, shortly after her initial statement a video emerged of her in police presence saying that she had no issue with the voting process.
A woman voter in #UttarPradesh‘s #LakhimpurKheri alleged she voted for #SamajwadiParty but #BJP slip was issued from the VVPAT.#LokSabhaElections2024 #GrowASpineOrResign pic.twitter.com/FsVdWkwfGE
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) May 13, 2024
Baramati, Maharashtra
MP Supriya Sule, Working President of the Nationalist Congress Part – Sharad Pawar faction took to X to express concern about a troubling incident after polling took place in the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency. According to her, the CCTV at the Godawan location where the EVMs are stored was switched off for 45 minutes. She has stated that the situation demands urgent attention from the Election Commission, who have so far not responded to what she called a major lapse and security issue.
बारामती लोकसभा मतदारसंघाचे मतदान पार पडल्यानंतर त्या इव्हिएम ज्या गोडावूनमध्ये ठेवल्या आहेत, तेथील सीसीटिव्ही आज सकाळी ४५ मिनिटे बंद पडले होते. इव्हिएमसारखी अतिशय महत्वाची गोष्ट जेथे ठेवलेली आहे, तेथील सीसीटिव्ही बंद पडणे ही बाब संशयास्पद आहे. तसेच हा खुप मोठा हलगर्जीपणा देखील… pic.twitter.com/8HmqR2icHn
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) May 13, 2024
Laxmikant Khabia of the NCP has thus far filed a complaint. Meanwhile, the Pune police has stated that the CCTV footage is ‘alright’, and has some ‘technical problems.’
“CCTV footage is alright. Due to some technical problems, they were not on for some time, but that problem has been sorted out and they have started working again. 24 hours a day, one officer and four staff members are appointed for CCTV footage checking. Additionally, diaries of… pic.twitter.com/kYzpFitrKk
— Punekar News (@punekarnews) May 13, 2024
Singhbhum, Jharkhand
Tribal villagers in Jharkhand reportedly received vote receipts featuring photographs of Prime Minister Modi and the lotus symbol, which is BJP’s symbol. It also featured the slogan ‘Ap ki baar, 400 paar’.
According to a video posted by Hate Detectors on the social media site X, formerly Twitter.
In #Jharkhand‘s #Singhbhum constituency, voters are allegedly being given the vote receipt having photos of #PMModi and Lotus. It also has ‘Ap ki baar, 400 paar’ written.#LokSabhaElections2024 #GrowASpineOrResign pic.twitter.com/ZhJPLlm7nL
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) May 13, 2024
Hyderabad, Telangana
Madhavi Latha, BJP candidate from Hyderabad, was reportedly witnessed asking women to take off their veil and identify themselves at a polling booth in the city on May 13.Madhavi Latha is contesting on the Hyderabad seat in Telangana against MP Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, who has been MP since 2004, and BRS’ Gaddam Srinivas Yadav.
She was seen trying to verify identities of the Muslim women sitting at the polling booth, by asking their identification cards and asking them to lift their veils. In the video of the incident, the police can be seen watching the incident unfold.
As per reports, an FIR has been filed against Latha at the Malakpet Police Station under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.
BJP’s #Hyderabad MP candidate Madhavi Latha ( @Kompella_MLatha ) was seen verifying voters IDs of #Muslim womens voters during #LokSabhaElection2024.
A case is registered in Malakpet Police Station against Madhavi Latha under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132… pic.twitter.com/mu1AGK5dAs
— Mohd Dastagir Ahmed (@Dastagir_Hyd) May 13, 2024
Nazamabad, Telangana
Similarly, BJP’s candidate Dharmapuri Aravind was seen asking Muslim women who had come for polling why they were wearing the Burqa, saying ““How would we know if she is a voter or not? Are you just time passing here or doing your duty,”. The MP has been in the news formerly for stating that the word ‘secular’ should be struck off from the constitution .
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Lok Sabha Nizamabad constituency Arvind Dharmapuri questions election officers why Muslim women wearing burqa are allowed to cast vote. “How would we know if she is a voter or not? Are you just time passing here or doing your duty,” he is… pic.twitter.com/SRaWRlJO81
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) May 13, 2024
Related:
Series of poll violations by ruling BJP. Inaction by ECI says Independent Panel