Seals broken on 7-8 ballot boxes at Pune graduates' constituency count, Harshada Deshmukh objects

The results of the Legislative Council elections from the graduates' and teachers' constituencies are due today, October 27. Polling is over and counting began at 8 am. In all, 182 candidates were in the fray across the state's three graduates' and two teachers' constituencies.

Meanwhile, the counting centre for the Pune graduates' constituency saw some commotion before counting began. Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Harshada Deshmukh claimed that eight ballot boxes were not sealed and objected to it. A prolonged uproar followed between the returning officer and the candidates' representatives, forcing counting to be halted for a while.

Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates alleged that the seals of seven to eight ballot boxes of the Pune graduates' constituency were found broken, which created tension at the centre. Representatives of other candidates, along with those of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, also raised objections. Their demand was that the boxes with broken seals be set aside and the remaining boxes be counted.

Maha Vikas Aghadi representatives said that during counting they noticed that the seals of some ballot boxes were broken. When they objected, the officials concerned came to the spot and inspected the boxes. The representatives alleged that the officials asked for counting to continue, saying the paper seals on the ballot boxes were intact.

The representatives also said the entire incident had been video-recorded, but complained that the recording had not yet been given to them. They further alleged that their objection, though raised before the election observers, was not being recorded in writing.

The representatives made clear that they have no information on which candidate received votes in the ballot boxes with broken seals. They claimed the matter is not limited to one party and that representatives of all candidates had objected.

The representatives said they are not demanding that counting be stopped altogether. Their demand is that the boxes with broken seals be kept aside and the counting of the remaining boxes continue transparently. They also demanded that the Election Commission take the matter seriously and take appropriate action.