Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP (SP)) leader Supriya Sule asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Maharashtra’s government to investigate claims of paid vote recording in two council races, citing concerns about ballot secrecy.
In an Oct. 23 post on X, Sule said complaints had emerged that voters in Pune’s Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies were being asked to use camera-equipped pens to record votes for BJP candidates. She said the pens were to be fastened to voters’ pockets, with recordings shown afterward to claim a promised payment. Sule called for an investigation and action against anyone found responsible, saying the alleged practice could compromise ballot secrecy and voter independence.
NDTV Profit said it had not independently verified the allegation. Its report did not state a payment amount or identify any voter who received money.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur, “I will be able to comment on it only if I get to see it,” The New Indian Express reported.
The Hindu reported that unnamed sources at the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office said they had received no formal complaint.
The five seats are in three Graduates’ constituencies, covering Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur divisions, and two Teachers’ constituencies, in Amravati and Pune divisions. They are part of Maharashtra’s 78-member Legislative Council.
The ECI’s Sept. 22 schedule set polling for Oct. 23, from 10:30 p.m. ET Oct. 22 to 6:30 a.m. ET Oct. 23 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. India Standard Time). Counting is scheduled for Oct. 27, with the election process due to be completed by Oct. 31.
