NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule alleged on Friday that complaints had emerged about the BJP using pens fitted with spy cameras to record voters casting their ballots in the Pune Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Responding to a question about the device, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had no idea what it was.
In a post on X, Sule claimed that voters were allegedly being asked to attach such pens to their pockets to record videos while voting for BJP candidates. They were promised money in return for showing the recorded videos after casting their votes, she alleged.
Describing the complaints as serious and concerning, Sule said the alleged practice threatened the secrecy of voting and the freedom of voters.
She urged the Election Commission and the government to take immediate cognisance of the complaints, conduct a thorough investigation and initiate strict action against those found responsible.
“Such practices that undermine the fundamental principles of democracy must not be tolerated under any circumstances,” she said, stressing that the electoral process must be conducted in a free, fair and transparent environment, without fear or coercion.
Asked about her allegations, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that he doesn’t even know what a spycam pen is.
“I will be able to comment on it only if I get to see it,” said Fadnavis, who cast his vote in the Nagpur Graduates’ constituency in the morning.
Biennial elections are being held for five seats in the 78-member Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC), comprising three Graduates’ and two Teachers’ constituencies. The constituencies are Pune Division Graduates’, Nagpur Division Graduates’, Pune Division Teachers’, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Graduates’ and Amravati Teachers’.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Sunetra Pawar-led NCP, and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT), are contesting all five seats.
The counting of votes is scheduled for October 27, while the election process will be completed by October 31, officials have said.
(With inputs from PTI)