SMS confuses Ghatkopar voters

Confusion reigned at an election centre at Ghatkopar (West) on Tuesday morning as two candidates from the constituency had similar names. However, the main reason behind
the chaos was an SMS received by the residents.

According to the police, around 9am, residents of the area received a message from the Citizen Message Centre, asking them to vote for independent candidate Ram Maruti Kadam. “The message claimed that Maruti Kadam’s election symbol is a road engine, and his serial number is 13,” said Sanjay Saxena, additional commissioner of police, adding that his symbol was a road roller.

However, Ram Shivaji Kadam, a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate, was also contesting from the same constituency and his election symbol was a railway engine “Since both candidates’ names are similar and the SMS mentioned an engine, there was major confusion,” said Saxena.

Santosh Sawant, a general store owner from the area, filed a complaint with the Ghatkopar police against Maruti Kadam and the Citizen Message Centre. The police have registered a case of impersonation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

“The case is likely to get transferred to the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell of the police to ascertain who gave the contract to send  the misleading message. It is believed that some voters got so confused about the candidates, that they ended up voting wrongly,” said a
police official.