Polling video goes viral

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, May 19

A case of violation of the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission on the use of mobile inside the polling booth came to fore in Hoshiarpur. 

In violation of the restriction imposed on mobile use, a voter shot a 15-second video showing the voting button being pressed on the EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) and the display of slip at VVPAT. The 15-second video shared and uploaded at near about 8:30 in the morning on WhatsApp, went viral in just a fraction of seconds. 

The district administration came to know about it and it spurred into action. District Electoral Officer Isha Kalia reached the spot and investigated the matter. After the investigation, finding it a case of reported negligence, the presiding officer of the booth and police party deployed there were replaced.

According to the information, during the voting process for the Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, the video made from the mobile got viral on the social messaging app WhatsApp. In this 15-second video, voter was seen pressing the button next to the name of the BJP candidate Som Parkash on the polling machine. After finding out about this, District Election Officer cum DC, Isha Kalia, went to the spot and inquired about the incident. 

Talking to media persons, Kalia said the mobile use had been banned on the polling booth, but a case of video making while voting on a booth in Hoshiarpur has surfaced.