Gujarat 'booth capturing': EC orders re-polling in Dahod booth

The Election Commission has announced re-polling at polling station number 220 in Parthampura village in Santrampur taluka of Gujarat’s Dahod district, on May 11.

The re-polling was ordered after the son of a BJP leader allegedly took control of the booth during the third phase of the polls on May 7 and live-streamed the entire episode on social media.

Following the incident, Gujarat’s Chief Election Officer (CEO) sent a report to the Election Commission (EC), which in turn declared voting held at the said polling booth on May 7 null and void under section 58, sub-section 2 of the Representation of the People Act.

The fresh round of polling will take place between 7 am and 6 pm on May 11.

4 officials, one cop suspended

The presiding officer, the assistant presiding officer, two polling officers and a police constable have been suspended, said a letter sent to the CEO, Gujarat by Under Secretary Anuradha Singh.

“I am directed to state that the matter of irregularity committed at the polling station number 220 of 123-Santrampur Assembly Segment of 19 - Dahod Parliamentary Constituency was reported to the Commission by the Observer deployed and the Returning Officer concerned. The Commission, after considering the irregularity committed during poll process at the said polling station, hereby declares, under subsection (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the poll held on 07.05.2024 (Tuesday) at Parthampur P.S. No. 220 of 123-Santrampur Assembly Segment of 19- Dahod Parliamentary Constituency, to be void and appoints 11th May, 2024 (Saturday) as the date and fixes the hours from 7.A.M. to 6.00 P.M. for taking fresh poll in accordance with the Commission’s instructions contained in Chapter-13 of Hand Book for Returning Officers, 2023,” the letter said.

BJP leader’s son arrested

The video that went viral on Instagram shows Vijay Bhabhor, the son of a BJP leader from Mahisagar and a party member, verbally abusing residing officers, threatening them and throwing them out of the polling booth. Bhabor then goes ahead to participate in bogus voting while claiming ownership of the EVM and other equipment, stating that they belong to his father. The whole incident was live streamed on Instagram and deleted later.

An FIR was filed against Vijay and one Magan Damor, based on a complaint lodged by Santrampur Mamlatdar IP Pathan. Both were arrested on May 9 and charged under IPC sections 128, 121, 122, 131/B, 171/D, and 135.

“Bhabhor arrived at the polling booth to vote at 5:49 pm and departed by 5:54 pm. During this brief period, he went live on Instagram while engaging in bogus voting by casting votes for two other individuals,” said a Dahod police official.

The action by EC was taken following the complaint by the Congress. After the booth capturing incident, Dahod's Congress candidate, Dr Prabhaben Taviad, filed a complaint against Vijay Bhabhor with the district collector and the district election officer.

The parliamentary seat of Dahod is reserved for schedule tribes and has been a Congress stronghold. BJP won the seat for the first time in 2019. In 2024, Congress candidate former two-time MP Prabha Taviad faces BJP’s sitting MP and former union minister Jasvantsinh Bhabhor.