Karnataka polls: Polling official arrested for allowing woman to vote

Hubli (IANS) | Voting is going on for the assembly elections in Karnataka on Wednesday. Meanwhile, following the complaint of a woman voter, a polling officer has been detained by the police. The woman alleges that the officer, while helping in the voting process, got her vote cast in favor of the BJP. The incident took place at a polling station in Chittapur constituency of Kalaburagi district. Basamma Antuman polling officer B.C. Chouhan to cast her vote in favor of Congress candidate Priyank Kharge. However, the officer cast his vote in favor of BJP candidate Manikant Rathod.

When the woman opposed this, the Congress workers created ruckus on the spot. Priyank Kharge reached the spot and complained to Election Officer Naveen Kumar. The polling officer was immediately taken off duty and replaced by another officer.

Based on the complaint, the polling officer was taken into police custody. In Chhatarpur constituency, Priyank Kharge, son of former minister and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, is pitted against BJP’s Manikant Rathore.

Congress alleges that there are more than 80 criminal cases registered against Manikant Rathore. An audio clip purportedly of Manikant Rathod had gone viral on social media in which he was heard saying that Mallikarjun Kharge’s family would be wiped out.

This led to a fierce fight between the Congress and the BJP.

–IANS