DHARAPURAM: A polling station official was shifted on Tuesday following allegations that an elderly woman was asked to vote for the “whistle” symbol during the Dharapuram byelection.Jayisin Beebi, 65, of Sokkanathapalayam went to cast her vote at booth no.137 in the Municipal Middle School at Kolinjivadi in the morning. As she was elderly, poll official Thangamani escorted Jayisin. The voter later alleged that she was urged to vote for the “whistle” symbol, but she insisted on voting for the DMK’s “rising sun” symbol and did so.After she came out and narrated the incident, DMK workers entered the booth and raised objections, leading to an argument and an inquiry on the spot. Voting was halted around 9am, and voters waited outside.Dharapuram RDO A Felix Raja arrived and held talks with the protesters, saying an inquiry would be conducted and CCTV footage reviewed. He said any decision on re-polling would be taken only by the Election Commission after the complaint was forwarded and guidance received.DMK agent Rajendran Babu submitted a written complaint alleging that Thangamani had pressured the voter to choose the “whistle” symbol. Following an inquiry by the RDO, Thangamani was shifted and replaced by Rajammal.In a separate incident, a 77-year-old woman was allowed to cast her vote using a ballot paper after officials found that a vote had already been recorded in her name earlier in the day.Kamalathaal, 77, arrived at booth no.129 in the Panchayat Union Primary School in Kondarasanpalayam around 5pm to vote. She was told that her vote had already been cast. Officials found a thumb impression recorded against her name, with the vote marked as having been cast around 11am. A verification showed there was no other voter with the same name in that booth. Following this, DMK and AIADMK functionaries alleged malpractice and argued with election staffers. Kamalathaal was later issued a ballot paper and permitted to cast her vote.
