Supriya Sule alleges spy-camera pens used to distribute cash in Pune teachers, graduates poll

Polling is under way for the teachers' and graduates' constituencies of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule has made a startling allegation that has stirred political circles. She says the BJP is using pens fitted with spy cameras to distribute money in this election. The result will be declared on October 27.

Sule made the claim in a post on her official X account. She wrote that complaints were emerging of the BJP using spycam pens to distribute money in the Pune teachers' and graduates' election.

According to her, voters themselves are describing the method. Such a pen is slipped into a voter's pocket. While the person votes, the pen records video to show whether the vote went to the BJP candidate. After voting, when the video is shown, a pre-decided sum is paid.

Sule called the complaints extremely serious and worrying. She said they put the secrecy of the vote and the freedom of voters at risk. She demanded that the Election Commission and the government take immediate note, order a thorough investigation and take strict action against those found guilty. She also wrote that such acts, which disregard the basics of democracy, must not be tolerated under any circumstances, and that elections must be held in a fair, fearless and transparent atmosphere.

With her post, Sule also shared a video of Kaustubh Gavde, the BJP candidate from the Pune teachers' constituency, at the time of voting. She said that at a polling booth, a candidate is expected to set aside party identity and go in like an ordinary voter. Everyone must preserve the sanctity of this sacred democratic process and the neutrality of the polling station.

She raised several questions over the video. She asked how the candidate was allowed into the polling station wearing the party symbol around his neck, and why this latitude is given only to a candidate of the ruling party. She asked whether this was not a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Sule said the Maharashtra government and the Election Commission should answer what exactly the action against such candidates will be.