UP Elections 2022: FIR Against Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey For Breaching Secrecy Of Voting

Pandey went to cast her vote at the Hudson school polling booth when she not only clicked her picture while casting the vote, but also recorded a video and shared it on social media. 

Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey | Twitter/@mayorkanpur

New Delhi: As Uttar Pradesh goes to the polling in the third phase of assembly elections today, a controversy was sparked when Kanpur Mayor and BJP leader Pramila Pandey posted photos and videos of the polling booth on social media. 

Pandey went to cast her vote at the Hudson school polling booth when she not only clicked her picture while casting vote, but also recorded a video and shared it on social media. 

"Today is the turn of voting in the great festival of democracy...Please exercise your franchise," Pandey had written Twitter with a photo from the polling booth.

लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में आज मतदान की बारी है...कृपया अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग जरूर करें pic.twitter.com/HBOQR7HqH6

— Pramila Pandey (@mayorkanpur) February 20, 2022

As a consequence, an FIR has been filed against her for violating the secrecy clause of polling. Kanpur Nagar DM, Neha Sharma wrote on her official Twitter handle, “In Kanpur, an FIR is being lodged against Mrs. Pramila Pandey under relevant sections for breach of secrecy of voting at Hudson School polling station. @ECISVEEP @ceoup @kanpurnagarpol.”

कानपुर में श्रीमती प्रमिला पांडे द्वारा हडसन स्कूल मतदान केंद्र में मतदान की गोपनीयता भंग करने के फल स्वरुप उनके विरुद्ध सुसंगत धाराओं में FIR कराई जा रही है। @ECISVEEP @ceoup @kanpurnagarpol

— DM Kanpur Nagar (@DMKanpur) February 20, 2022

Interestingly, Pramila Pandey is not the only BJP leader who is charged in this case. Another BJP leader, Nawab Singh is also charged for similar actions.

Nawab Singh is former President of BJP Yuva Morcha and he is also charged for breaching secrecy of voting. Kanpur Nagar DM also tweeted, “An FIR is being lodged against Mr. Nawab Singh, former President, BJP Yuva Morcha under relevant sections for breaching the secrecy of voting in the polling booth. @ECISVEEP @ceoup @kanpurnagarpol.” 

श्री नवाब सिंह, पूर्व अध्यक्ष, भाजपा युवा मोर्चा द्वारा मतदान केंद्र में मतदान की गोपनीयता भंग करने के फल स्वरुप उनके विरुद्ध सुसंगत धाराओं में FIR कराई जा रही है। @ECISVEEP @ceoup @kanpurnagarpol

— DM Kanpur Nagar (@DMKanpur) February 20, 2022

This is the third phase polling day for Uttar Pradesh where polling is taking place on 59 constituency seats in 16 districts. UP elections are being conducted in seven phases. The final phase election will take place on March 7, and the counting of the votes will be conducted on March 10.