2019 LS polls: Poll agent arrested for trying to influence voters inside Faridabad booth

A polling agent in Haryana’s Faridabad was arrested after a video of him allegedly trying to influence voters went viral on social media. Faridabad went to vote in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 12.

Faridabad: A polling agent in Haryana’s Faridabad was arrested after a video of him allegedly trying to influence voters went viral on social media. Faridabad went to vote in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 12. Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa confirmed that the person has been arrested. The District Election Office, Faridabad, on its official Twitter account, said polling was not compromised in the booth. Faridabad went to polls on May 12. Lavasa said the polling agent was arrested on Sunday afternoon and an FIR has been lodged. “DEO Faridabad reported that the observer, Sanjay Kumar investigated the entire matter. Report of the observer will be examined by ECI and action will be taken against those found wanting in their duty,” he tweeted. The DEO, Faridabad also tweeted that the observer was “satisfied that polling was never vitiated.” In the video, a man in a blue t-shirt, now identified as a polling agent, kept walking up to the polling booth and appears to have reportedly either pointed to the party symbol on the EVM or pressed the button, that for at least three voters. After the video went viral, multiple people tagged the Election Commission on Twitter asking for action to be taken against the man. Polling agents are appointed by the candidates standing in the election to oversee the process in the station. The arrested man’s political party has not been made known as yet.