A polling official was shifted during the Dharapuram byelection on Tuesday after a 65-year-old voter alleged that she was asked to vote for the “whistle” symbol at a booth in Kolinjivadi, prompting a halt in voting and an inquiry by election authorities.
Jayisin Beebi, a resident of Sokkanathapalayam, arrived at booth no. 137 at the Municipal Middle School in Kolinjivadi in the morning. As she was elderly, polling official Thangamani escorted her inside the booth. Beebi later alleged that she was urged to vote for the “whistle” symbol. She said she insisted on voting for the DMK’s “rising sun” symbol and cast her vote accordingly.
After leaving the booth, Beebi narrated the incident, following which DMK workers entered the polling station and raised objections. An argument broke out and voting was halted around 9am, leaving voters waiting outside the polling station.
Dharapuram RDO A Felix Raja reached the booth and held discussions with the protesters. He said an inquiry would be conducted and that CCTV footage would be reviewed. The RDO also said any decision on conducting a re-poll would be taken by the Election Commission after the complaint was forwarded and further guidance was received.
DMK agent Rajendran Babu submitted a written complaint alleging that Thangamani had pressured the voter to choose the “whistle” symbol. Following the inquiry conducted by the RDO, Thangamani was shifted from the polling station and replaced by Rajammal. The report did not specify whether the Election Commission had ordered any re-poll at the booth.
A separate incident at another Dharapuram byelection booth involved a 77-year-old voter who was initially told that her vote had already been recorded. Kamalathaal arrived at booth no. 129 in the Panchayat Union Primary School in Kondarasanpalayam at around 5pm. Officials found a thumb impression against her name and records showing that the vote had been cast at around 11am.
Officials checked the voter list and found no other voter with the same name at the booth. DMK and AIADMK functionaries then alleged malpractice and argued with election staff. Kamalathaal was subsequently issued a ballot paper and allowed to cast her vote.
The incidents placed polling-station procedures, voter assistance for elderly citizens and the safeguards used when a vote is recorded before the listed voter arrives under scrutiny. In the first case, the RDO’s stated next steps were to review CCTV footage and forward the complaint for Election Commission guidance. In the second, the immediate resolution was to permit the voter to cast her vote using a ballot paper.
