Polling was briefly disrupted at a booth in the Kolinjivadi area near Dharapuram in Tirupur district after an election officer was accused of directing an elderly woman voter to cast her vote for the whistle symbol of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The allegation led to protests by political party agents and local residents at the polling station, creating a commotion that temporarily affected the voting process. The incident occurred while polling was underway and quickly drew the attention of people present at the booth, prompting authorities to intervene and assess the complaint.
According to reports, the officer, identified as Thangamani, allegedly instructed the elderly voter to press the whistle symbol while she was casting her vote. The allegation was objected to by political representatives and others at the polling station, who protested against what they viewed as an attempt to influence the voter's choice. The incident resulted in heightened tension inside and around the booth, with the polling process being disrupted as the complaint was raised and people gathered at the location.
Dharapuram police were called to the polling station after the protests intensified and intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further. Officers worked to pacify the agitating crowd and restore order at the booth. Polling remained affected for nearly an hour as authorities dealt with the complaint and the resulting disruption. The police presence at the location was subsequently strengthened to maintain security, reassure voters and polling staff, and ensure that voting could resume without further disturbance.
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Following an investigation into the complaint, the Election Commission ordered the immediate removal of Thangamani from election duty at the polling station. Rajammal was appointed as the replacement election officer and was given responsibility for supervising the continuation of polling at the booth. The decision came after the authorities examined the allegation that the earlier officer had directed the elderly voter toward a particular electoral symbol. The removal was intended to allow the polling process to continue under a new officer after the dispute at the station.
Voting eventually resumed under the supervision of Rajammal, with additional security arrangements put in place at the polling station. More than 100 police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain order and prevent any further untoward incidents. The increased deployment was aimed at ensuring that voters could enter the booth and cast their ballots without disruption while also providing security to election personnel following the earlier confrontation. Authorities continued to monitor the situation as polling proceeded after the interruption.
The incident has highlighted concerns over the importance of neutrality and impartial conduct by officials responsible for managing elections. Polling officers are expected to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise independently and without pressure or direction concerning a particular candidate or symbol. The Election Commission's decision to remove the officer following the complaint allowed polling to continue under a replacement official, while the police deployment helped maintain order at the location. The voting process resumed after the disruption, with authorities taking steps to prevent any further disturbance at the booth.
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