Congress demand banning of mobile phones inside voting hall

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 29, 2021

The opposition Congress on Friday demanded the election department not to allow the use of mobile phones inside the voting hall during the bye election to the Rajabala Assembly seat on Saturday.  

In a complaint submitted to the Returning Officer, President of the West Garo Hills District Congress Committee Zenith Sangma “…in the fitness of things, the mobile phones or any such device which can take photograph may not be allowed while entering into the voting hall to cast their votes, to ensure free and fair election.”

He alleged that the party has received lots of reports that the National Peoples Party (NPP) workers are telling the electors to take photograph of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) while pressing the button of NPP symbol to ascertain that they have voted in favour of the ruling party and after seeing the photograph they will be given money outside, after coming out of the voting hall.

Sangma said this proposed modus operandi of the NPP to woo the voters will affect the conduct of free and fair election while asserting “that this very action of bribing the voters by taking advantage of the technology is another violation of model code of conduct.”

The Congress leader also urged the election department to take necessary action to instill confidence and restore peace for ensuring free and fair election.