A polling agent in Haryana’s Faridabad was arrested on Sunday after a video of him allegedly trying to influence voters in the sixth round of the national election went viral on social media.
In the video, the polling agent, wearing a blue T-shirt, can be seen walking up to the polling booth as a woman prepares to cast her vote. He appears to press a button on the EVM or pointing to a party symbol and then promptly returns to his seat. The man repeats the act with two other women voters.
Faridabad, Haryana
How impotent are the systems
CEC, Please answer pic.twitter.com/0Lc8d516Xu
— Paul Koshy (@Paul_Koshy) May 12, 2019
Election commissioner Ashok Lavasa confirmed that the polling agent was arrested on Sunday afternoon and a report on the issue will be examined by the Election Commission.
“DEO Faridabad reported that the observer, Sanjay Kumar investigated the entire matter. The person in the video is the Polling agent who has been arrested in the afternoon itself. FIR is lodged,” Lavasa tweeted.
The person in the video is the Polling agent who has been arrested in the afternoon itself. FIR lodged. He was trying to effect at least 3 lady voters. Observer & ARO with teams visited the booth at Asawati in prithala constituency. He is satisfied that voting was never vitiated
— DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICE FARIDABAD (@OfficeFaridabad) May 12, 2019
Ashok Lavasa said after receiving the full report action will be taken against those found wanting in their duty. He added that the scrutiny of this polling station will be comprehensive.
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The district election office in Faridabad said voting was not compromised. “Prompt action taken. FIR lodged. Person behind bars. Observer enquired the matter personally and is satisfied that polling was never vitiated,” DEO Faridabad tweeted.
The voter turnout was 64.48% in Faridabad. Union minister Krishan Pal Gurjar is contesting against Congress’s Avtar Singh Bhadana and INLD’s Mahender Chauhan in this seat.
All 10 seats in Haryana went to polls on May 12. Results will be declared on May 23.