Bengal Resident's Maharashtra Political Aspiration Triggers Electoral Investigation
In a development that has raised eyebrows in electoral circles, Ujjwala Appa Burungale, an online yoga teacher and registered voter from Dubrajpur in Birbhum district, has decided to contest the zilla parishad elections from Maharashtra as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. This unusual cross-state political move has triggered formal scrutiny from election authorities, with the Bengal Chief Electoral Officer seeking detailed reports on the matter.
Electoral Irregularities Under Scanner
The controversy emerged when the couple, Ujjwala and her husband Appa Shankar Burungale, received hearing notices after their enumeration forms were found lacking proper data of their previous Serial Identification Register. Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal has specifically requested a comprehensive report from District Magistrate Dhaval Jain regarding this electoral anomaly.
"If the couple had genuinely shifted from Maharashtra to Bengal, they should be able to provide their SIR data from Maharashtra," stated Agarwal, highlighting the procedural concern. He further clarified that since enumeration forms were issued to them, their names exist in the electoral rolls, and any procedural lapses could result in penalties for the Booth Level Officer who accepted the incomplete documentation.
Political Parties Raise Questions
The issue gained political traction when Trinamool Congress flagged the matter on social media platforms, questioning how a voter currently under scrutiny in Bengal could simultaneously be a BJP candidate in a Maharashtra district council election. This has added a political dimension to what initially appeared as an administrative discrepancy.
Family's Explanation and Background
Appa Shankar Burungale, who identifies himself as a goldsmith operating from Dubrajpur municipality ward 12, provided context to the situation. According to his account, he and his wife Ujjwala have been residing in Bengal since 2008, maintaining their roots in Solapur district of Maharashtra.
"My wife traveled to Pune because our eldest son Projjwal was there for his class 12 board examinations," explained Shankar. He confirmed that they possess Maharashtra SIR data, which they submitted to officials during the hearing conducted on December 31st.
Regarding his wife's political involvement, Shankar offered clarification: "Yes, she is contesting the polls there, but she is primarily a housewife. After the pandemic, she began teaching yoga online to women. She hasn't been politically active here, and while she has filed her candidature in Maharashtra, the campaign activities haven't commenced yet."
Local Perspectives and Official Responses
Booth Level Officer Lakshman Rewani maintained that the couple themselves submitted the enumeration forms, adding that "only higher authorities can determine what future actions might be taken" regarding this electoral irregularity.
Local BJP MLA Arup Saha distanced himself from the candidate, stating "I don't know them personally. She never worked for our party here in Bengal," suggesting the candidature might have been initiated through Maharashtra BJP channels rather than local Bengal party structures.
Broader Implications for Electoral Integrity
This case highlights several important aspects of India's electoral framework:
- The verification mechanisms for candidates contesting elections outside their primary residence states
- The importance of complete and accurate documentation in electoral processes
- The challenges election authorities face in maintaining electoral rolls across state boundaries
- The growing phenomenon of digital professionals engaging in political activities across geographical boundaries
The situation remains under active investigation, with election authorities examining whether this represents an administrative oversight or requires more serious electoral integrity interventions. As digital connectivity enables professionals like online yoga teachers to operate beyond geographical constraints, electoral systems face new challenges in verifying candidate credentials and residency claims.
