Supriya Sule seeks electoral accountability as Devendra Fadnavis responds to allegations of alleged irregularities.
PUNE: NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has raised concerns over allegations that the BJP is using pens fitted with spy cameras to record voters during the ongoing Maharashtra Legislative Council elections in the Pune Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies. She has called on the Election Commission and the government to investigate the matter and take strict action against those found guilty.
Calling the allegations serious, Sule said the reported practice could compromise ballot secrecy and undermine voters’ independence.
Voters were allegedly promised money in exchange for showing the recorded footage after voting, according to the complaints cited by her. In a post on X, Sule alleged that voters were being given pens equipped with hidden cameras and asked to keep them in their pockets while casting their ballots in favour of BJP candidates. She urged the authorities to take immediate cognisance of the complaints, carry out a detailed investigation and ensure accountability. “Complaints have surfaced that in the Pune Teachers and Graduates Constituency election, the BJP is using pens equipped with spy cams for distributing money. Voters are reporting that such pens are being placed in their pockets, a video is recorded of them casting their vote for the BJP candidate, and after voting, upon showing the video, the promised money is handed over—this is the kind of activity that’s underway,” the MP wrote. “These complaints are extremely serious and concerning. The Election Commission and the government must take immediate notice of this practice, which jeopardizes the secrecy of voting and the independence of voters, conduct a thorough investigation, and take strict action against the guilty parties, she alleged. “Practices that trample upon the fundamental principles of democracy must not be tolerated under any circumstances. The election process must be conducted in a fair, fearless, and transparent environment.”