Nagpur: Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections began at 7 AM today, with citizens in Nagpur turning out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights. However, chaos erupted in the South-West Nagpur constituency when a woman found out that her vote had already been cast by someone else. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.
Ujjwala Bhimrao Patil, a resident of Shatabdi Chowk in the Rameshwari area, went to vote this morning with her friend. To her shock, she was informed at the polling station that a vote had already been recorded under her name. Stunned, she confronted the polling officials, seeking an explanation.
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The officials reportedly told her that her vote was already cast and insisted that discrepancies in the voter ID photo would not matter. This response left Ujjwala Patil outraged. The incident has led to growing suspicion of bogus voting under her name.
What Can Voters Do in Such Situations?
Under Section 49P of the Representation of the People Act, 1961, provisions exist to ensure that genuine voters are not denied their right to vote. If someone has voted in your name, you can appeal to the presiding officer at the polling station.
Here’s what you need to do:
– Provide valid identification such as your Voter ID card or the voting slip issued by the Election Commission.
– Prove your identity as the legitimate voter by answering the presiding officer’s questions satisfactorily.
If convinced, the presiding officer can allow you to cast your vote despite the earlier entry. This legal safeguard ensures that genuine voters can still exercise their democratic right even in cases of mistaken or bogus voting.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security and integrity of the voting process in the constituency. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
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