Where did my vote go? Rajasthan candidate gets zero votes in civic polls, alleges theft
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The results from certain wards in the recently held Rajasthan urban local body (ULB) elections appeared distinctly bizarre, as one candidate alleged that he had received zero votes even though he and members of his family had cast their ballots, prompting him to allege vote theft and demand an impartial inquiry into the matter.
Omprakash Bawri, a Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) candidate from Sindhri Municipal Council in Balotra district, contested from ward 3 and has submitted a complaint to the state election commission, alleging that despite him and his family members casting their votes, the official results showed no votes in his favour, The Indian Express reported.
According to the counting results cited in his complaint, 227 votes were polled in the ward, with the Congress candidate receiving 132 votes and the BJP candidate 92, while Bawri was shown as receiving zero votes, one less than NOTA.
In a video released later, Bawri claimed that people in the ward had voted for him, and that there was no other explanation than that votes were "stolen" during the voting or counting process; he demanded the immediate seizure of the EVMs used in the ward and an impartial inquiry into the entire process.
He further alleged that although he was present, officials did not obtain his signature on documents relating to the sealing of the machines and instead removed him from the premises, and he has demanded scrutiny of the videography, voting and counting records, along with a recount or further legal action if irregularities are established.
A similarly unusual result was reported from Parbatsar municipality, where BJP candidate Kailashchand received only one vote in Ward 13. BJP district president Sunita Randa said the candidate had been fielded from the minority-dominated ward despite being a resident of Ward 12, as the party did not want an opposing candidate to win unopposed.
Parbatsar municipality has 25 wards, of which Congress won 13 and BJP 12, while election authorities did not respond to calls seeking a comment on the claims.