In an unprecedented move to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming civic polls, voters in the Beed Municipal Council will now be required to present supplementary identity documents alongside their Aadhaar cards to cast their ballots on December 2.
The directive was formally issued on Sunday by Kavita Jadhav, the returning officer for the Beed Municipal Council. This additional security layer comes as a direct response to numerous complaints alleging that outside voters had fabricated counterfeit Aadhaar cards to engage in bogus voting, potentially swaying the election's outcome.
Strict Actions Against Fraud
Authorities have issued a stern warning to those contemplating electoral malpractice. "If anyone is found using a fake Aadhaar on polling day, cases will be registered against such people," stated Jadhav. The crackdown extends beyond individual voters. All private and affiliated Citizen Facilitation Centres have been put on notice, with the returning officer explicitly warning that criminal action will be initiated if any are discovered to be involved in the preparation of fraudulent Aadhaar documents.
On-Ground Verification Process
The verification of Aadhaar cards presented by voters will be conducted meticulously at every polling booth. Officials will utilize the official M-Aadhaar app to scan the barcode on each card, instantly confirming its authenticity. Jadhav urged all voters to take note, emphasizing that action will be taken if any card is found to be fake during this scanning process.
To ensure no legitimate voter is turned away, the administration has clarified that any additional photo identity proof will be considered valid. This includes the Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC), a driving licence, or even a bank passbook containing a photograph.
The Context of a Tight Electoral Battle
The heightened security measures are set against the backdrop of an intensely competitive election. The Beed Municipal Council is witnessing multi-corner fights, where the winning and losing margins are anticipated to be exceptionally slim. In such a high-stakes environment, candidates are reportedly leaving no stone unturned to reach every potential voter.
This situation is further complicated by Beed's demographic reality. The region has a considerable number of voters who have migrated to cities like Pune and elsewhere in search of better livelihood opportunities. Due to various constraints, including the fact that December 2 is not a public holiday and the associated costs of travel, many of these migrants are unlikely to return to Beed to vote. This absence creates a vacuum that some factions are allegedly attempting to exploit by preparing bogus Aadhaar cards for outsider voters, making the new verification protocol all the more critical.
