NCP candidate, his wife booked after they perform 'puja' of EVM in Pune's Bhor

A case was filed after the booth’s centre in-charge reported the incident. Representational Pic/File

Police have registered a case against Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate contesting the Maharashtra local body elections in Pune district for allegedly performing a ‘puja' of an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) inside a polling booth, officials said on Tuesday, reported the PTI.

The incident occurred in Bhor during polling for 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state.

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A video of NCP candidate Kedar Deshpande, who contested for the post of councillor in the Bhor municipal council, and his wife performing the puja went viral on social media.

Following the incident, a case was filed after the booth's centre in-charge reported the incident as a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Prajakta Ghorpade, the returning officer for the Bhor division, said that the candidate and his wife performed the ritual after the mock poll despite being warned.

"The centre in-charge tried to dissuade the candidate and his wife, but they did not listen and went ahead with the puja of the EVM," she said, according to the PTI.

A mock poll is conducted before voting officially begins to ensure the EVM is functioning correctly.

Following the incident, the polling booth in-charge approached the Bhor police station and lodged a complaint against the couple.

Senior inspector Appasaheb Pawar of Bhor police station said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Further investigation is underway, said the official.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Tuesday condemned incidents of violence during civic polls, saying that such behaviour has no place in a democracy, reported the PTI.

In a post on X, Ajit Pawar described elections as a "sacred process" and stressed that every voter must be able to cast their vote without fear. He urged all parties, including members of the ruling coalition, to maintain discipline and honour the principle of "alliance dharma."

"Any attempt to disturb peace or influence voters through force is against the Constitution and Maharashtra's values. Such behaviour will not be tolerated," Pawar added.

Violence was reported from multiple places during the first phase of local body elections in Maharashtra on Tuesday with even the supporters of the ruling allies BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena coming to blows in some places, police said, as per the PTI.

Among others, a case was registered against Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangar for entering the polling booth in violation of rules in Hingoli city.

(with PTI inputs)