53% polling, and some chaos in Bangalore

Except for a few heated arguments between workers of political parties and complaints related to missing names from the voters’ lists, polling in the by-election for Banashankari temple ward (number 180) was peaceful on Sunday.

About 53% of electorate exercised their franchise. Elaborate security was arranged at all polling stations, and additional forces were deployed at polling stations including 13 hyper sensitive booths.

Polling began on a dull note in the morning but picked as the day progressed. Arguments between poll officials and voters occurred at most of the booths as hundreds of voters found their names missing from the list. In many cases, the photographs were mismatched, causing confusion. Voters complained that their names were deliberately removed from the list.

According to the police, there was a verbal clash between the Congress and the BJP supporters near Yarabnagar, when a speeding car belonging to a BJP supporter almost hit a few voters standing near the polling station.

The Congress and JD(S) supporters objected to the rash driving and raised slogans against the BJP. Timely intervention from the police prevented the matter from getting out of hand.

Congress party worker from Yarabnagar Syed Ghouse said his name was missing from the voters list. “Even though I have been a resident of this area for 40 years, my name has been deliberately removed from the voters’ list.

But my wife Fathima Begum and daughter Mobina were listed, and even my son Alla Baksh was listed, although he could not cast his vote as a wrong photograph was pasted. Over 4,000 voters complained of mismatched photos or names. The BJP has done this deliberately in areas where the Congress has a stronghold,” Ghose said.

“I could not vote due as my photograph was  changed with another person’s. When I went to the booth, I was not allowed to vote. Somebody’s mistake has meant that my voting right was taken from me,” said Syed Amir Jhan at polling booth number 9.