Bengal Bypolls: Woman Records Video Of Herself Voting To Prove Loyalty To TMC

A woman in Raiganj recorded herself voting for the Trinamool Congress in Bengal to prove her loyalty to the party. The act came despite the ECI's ban on mobile phones in polling booths.

Each of the seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections in Bengal saw violence, including murder, abduction, threats, and intimidation. Now, after 36 days of the results of the Lok Sabha polls, byelections are being held in the four assembly constituencies of the state. However, it seems intimidation is still prevalent in the state. Amid the bypolls, reports of intimidation and other incidents of breaking of law are coming to the fore.

Voting for the bypolls in Bengal is being held in Kolkata's Maniktala, Bagda in North 24 Parganas, Nadia's Ranaghat South, and North Dinajpur's Raiganj assembly constituencies. In a bizarre incident, at booth number 147 in Kanchanpally GSP School, Raiganj, a woman recorded herself voting in the assembly byelection.

While voting is a private action and a civil right, the woman made a video to prove her loyalty to the ruling party. Having recorded her choice of party in the bypoll, she went to her area's Trinamool Congress leader to prove to him that she voted for the TMC.

Why Did She Have To Prove Her Loyalty To TMC?

According to ABP Ananda sources, the woman was a known BJP worker in the area. Recently, she started hobnobbing with Trinamool leaders. But even then she could not gain credibility within the party. To prove herself as a Trinamool footsoldier, the voter indulged in the act of recording her vote. She then showed the video to vice-president of North Dinajpur District Trinamool Congress Arindam Sarkar. 

The Raiganj assembly bypoll is a three-way contest among the Trinamool's Krishna Kalyani, the BJP's Manas Kumar Ghosh, and the Congress's Mohit Sengupta. BJP is ahead in Raiganj seat in terms of the Lok Sabha poll results in assembly segments.  

What Does The Election Commission On Mobile Phones In Polling Booths? 

Carrying phones inside polling stations is not allowed by the Election Commission of India, which says: "No, carrying of mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatch, wireless sets etc. inside the polling stations on the day of poll and is not allowed. However, Presiding Officers are allowed to carry their phones in silent mode for communication purposes in case of exigency and necessity."

(Story by Ujjal Mukhopadhyay, ABP Ananda)