Vadodara: A Congress candidate from Ward 9 has demanded a repoll in Ward 11, where she resides, after discovering that her vote had been cast before she arrived at the polling booth. Meena Vasava, contesting on a Congress ticket from Ward 9, went to cast her vote on Sunday at her designated polling station at DR Amin School in Diwalipura. She alleged that polling officials informed her that her vote had already been recorded. After she raised objections and convinced the officials of the discrepancy, she was permitted to cast a tendered vote on ballot paper.
Formal Complaint Filed
Congress city unit president Rutvij Joshi rushed to the polling booth and jointly submitted a formal complaint with Vasava. Joshi demanded a repoll in the ward, alleging serious irregularities in the voting process. On Monday, Joshi further claimed that several voters' names were duplicated in the electoral rolls, an issue he said surfaced after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The incident has sparked concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the ward. Vasava expressed shock that her vote was allegedly misused, emphasizing that such irregularities undermine democratic principles. Joshi urged the Election Commission to investigate the matter thoroughly and take necessary action to ensure free and fair elections.
Duplication Allegations
Joshi elaborated that the duplication of voter names was detected during the SIR process, which was meant to clean up the electoral rolls. He questioned how such errors could persist despite the revision exercise. The party has submitted a written complaint to the returning officer and demanded a repoll in Ward 11 to restore voter confidence.
The Election Commission has yet to respond to the allegations. Meanwhile, Vasava and other Congress workers plan to approach higher authorities if their demand for a repoll is not met. The incident has become a talking point in local political circles, with opposition parties criticizing the administration's handling of the electoral process.
