District Official Issues Show Cause Notice Regarding EVM: What Happened In Karimganj Lok Sabha Elections

Following the circulation of a purported video allegedly showing a polling agent in Assam’s Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency voting five times on an EVM for the BJP candidate, the District Election Officer (DEO) has taken action by issuing a show cause notice to polling officials. The polling was held in the Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency on April 26 during the second phase of general elections

In a statement issued by the office of the DEO, it was suggested that the video was recorded during a “mock poll” conducted before the official voting commenced. The statement further explained, “As per procedure, polling agents are allowed to cast a few votes in favour of the candidate during a mock poll. Statements of other polling agents are underway, and polling officials have been served show cause notices in this regard.”

The video, which has been widely shared on social media, purportedly features Abdul Sahid, a polling agent for Independent candidate Abdul Hameed, repeatedly pressing the button for BJP candidate and sitting MP Kripanath Mallah five times in succession.

In response to complaints regarding the video, the matter was brought before the General Observer, and the polling team was summoned. The Presiding Officer of the polling station stated that the video was recorded during a mock poll, and the votes cast were cleared before actual polling commenced. This explanation was corroborated by Abdul Sahid, the polling agent, according to the statement.

The full statement from the office of the District Election Officer reads, “A video is being shared on social media where it is seen that few persons are casting votes in favor of the BJP Candidate on 26th April in Polling Station No 11, 240 NO. NAYADHAR L.P. School (Right) of 125 Patharkandi LAC, Karimganj HPC-7. On receiving this complaint, the matter was brought during scrutiny in the presence of the General Observer and Candidates/Election agent on 11 am, 27th April. The Polling Team was called, and as per the statement of Presiding Officer Shri, Nazrul Hague Tapadar, Librarian (Taltala High School), the said video was taken during a mock poll, and later on, CRC (Close Result Clear) was done before the start of the Actual Poll. The same is also corroborated by the statements of persons visible in the shared video, namely Abdul Sahid S/o Ajimuddinn, Vill – Chenjur, who is the Polling agent of Abdul Hameed, an independent candidate. As per procedure, Polling Agents are allowed to cast a few votes in favor of the candidate during the Mock Poll. Statements of other polling agents are underway, and polling officials have been served Show-cause notices in this regard.”

In the Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency, BJP has fielded Kripanath Mallah while the Congress candidate was Hafeez Rashid Ahmed Choudhury. AIUDF fielded Sahabul Islam Choudhury and the results will be announced on June 4 along with all other Lok Sabha constituencies.