A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Shiv Sena legislator Santosh Bangar for allegedly violating election rules by entering a polling booth and guiding a woman voter during the local body elections in Maharashtra's Hingoli district. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked widespread condemnation for breaching the secrecy of voting and flouting the model code of conduct.
The Incident: A Serious Breach of Polling Protocol
The controversy unfolded in the morning hours at polling booth number 3 located in the market area of Kalmanuri, within the Hingoli district. According to the official complaint, between 7:30 am and 8:00 am, Bangar entered the polling chamber at Mangalwara Bazaar Kanya Shala's room 02. A video that subsequently went viral on social media captured the MLA inside the booth, allegedly directing a woman voter to press a specific election symbol on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
The footage also showed Bangar shouting slogans, which translated to "Victory to late Balasaheb Thackeray... Eknath Shinde, you march on, we are with you." He was also reportedly using a mobile phone inside the polling station. These actions constitute a serious breach under electoral laws, which strictly prohibit campaigning, issuing instructions to voters, sloganeering, and using mobile phones within polling booths to ensure the integrity and secrecy of the vote.
Official Response and FIR Registration
The FIR was formally lodged at the Hingoli city police station based on a complaint filed by Dilip Mundada, an assistant teacher who was on duty at the polling booth. The case has been registered under BNS section 223 for disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public authorities, and section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals specifically with maintaining the secrecy of voting.
Hingoli District Collector Rahul Gupta confirmed to the Times of India that the returning officer conducted a detailed inquiry and submitted a fact-based report to the State Election Commission (SEC). Gupta stated, "The Hingoli police have registered an FIR and a report will be sent to the SEC for further action." Police officials indicated that further legal steps will be determined after the SEC reviews the inquiry report.
Political Condemnation and Calls for Action
The incident drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, strongly condemned Bangar's behaviour. He emphasized, "Public representatives must have basic respect for democracy. They should think about how they behave in elections and what message they are giving." Fadnavis warned that such conduct damages the credibility of the entire electoral process and sends a wrong message to both citizens and election officials.
Opposition politicians have been vocal in demanding stringent action. They have called for immediate legal proceedings against Bangar and the disqualification of the candidate for whom the alleged act was committed, labelling the incident a direct assault on democratic integrity.
The State Election Commission's forthcoming decision on the matter is now highly anticipated, as it will set a precedent for enforcing the model code of conduct and upholding the sanctity of the electoral process in Maharashtra.
