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Reports of poll guidelines breached as India completes fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections

BJP candidate forces Muslim women to unveil themselves at polling booth, in one of the instances of violations that took place during the fourth phase of the general assembly elections in India.

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.

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.

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.’

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.

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.

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 .

 

Related:

Series of poll violations by ruling BJP. Inaction by ECI says Independent Panel

#GrowASpineOrResign: Citizens’ mass city-wide protest against inaction by ECI over PM Modi’s hate speech & suppression of voters rights during ongoing election

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