MLA's Polling Booth Entry with Son Triggers Major Election Norms Controversy
A significant controversy erupted during the zilla parishad elections in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Saturday, drawing sharp criticism from voters and opposition parties. The incident centered around Paithan's Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre, who entered a polling booth accompanied by his 10-year-old son, took the child close to the electronic voting machine, and permitted polling staff to apply indelible ink to the boy's finger.
Serious Violation of Election Commission Protocols
The incident occurred at a polling station located in the Pachod zilla parishad group under the Paithan assembly constituency. District collector Deelip Swami confirmed that the Election Commission has demanded a comprehensive explanation regarding this breach of protocol. "The incident is extremely serious and warrants thorough investigation," Swami stated to reporters. "Responsibility will be firmly established, and appropriate action will be taken against the presiding officer and the staff member who applied the ink."
A senior election department official emphasized that rules explicitly prohibit unauthorized individuals, including minors, from entering the voting compartment to maintain the absolute secrecy of the ballot. The controversy gained additional attention because Sandipan Bhumre's nephew, Shivraj, was contesting the district council election from the same Pachod group.
Political Circles Abuzz with Outrage and Inquiry Initiated
Political circles were immediately abuzz with discussions, particularly regarding allegations that polling staff "welcomed" the MLA's son inside the booth. Following the incident, a brief tense situation developed at the polling station as objections were raised by numerous voters and opposition party workers. Election officials intervened promptly to ensure the polling process continued without further disruption.
Election authorities announced that a dedicated committee would be constituted to investigate the entire incident and submit a detailed report to the Election Commission. Simultaneously, complaints were received from several polling stations about electronic voting machines experiencing technical issues. "Voting was not halted at any location," Swami clarified. "Alternative arrangements were implemented wherever necessary to guarantee smooth proceedings."
Similar Incident Reported in Solapur District
In a related development from Solapur district, NCP (SP) candidate from Malshiras, Arjunsinh Mohite Patil, also brought his son to a polling booth. Allegations emerged that his son might have cast a vote on his behalf. Mohite Patil later explained that his son was curious about how his parents cast their votes, which prompted him to take the child to the polling station. Polling staff members reiterated that no minors are permitted inside polling booths, except for toddlers who may accompany their mothers.
State Election Commission officials confirmed that decisive action will be taken against the presiding officer once the inquiry is completed. The elections in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district were conducted for 63 ZP seats under stringent security measures, with several seats contested by relatives of prominent politicians, adding to the electoral significance for MLAs and MPs across the region.
