Allegations of Double Voting Emerge in Assam's Lok Sabha Elections

Sivasagar: Allegations of electoral malpractice have surfaced in Assam after reports emerged that a single individual voted twice under different names during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19. The accused, identified as Putu Baruah, is a resident of Amolapatty in Sivasagar.

According to a complaint filed by social activist Ntipan Saikia with the electoral offices in Nazira and Sivasagar, Putu Baruah used two different voter cards to cast ballots in two separate constituencies. The complaint alleges that Baruah voted in Sivasagar under his own name and in Nazira under the name Indreswar Baruah.

The voter card for the Sivasagar constituency shows Putu Baruah as a 77-year-old male, while the card for the Nazira constituency lists Indreswar Baruah, apparently the same person, as a 76-year-old. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter. Officials from the Election Commission of India have acknowledged the complaint and stated that strict action will be taken if the allegations are proven true. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a fair and transparent electoral process.

"We take these allegations very seriously," said an election official from Sivasagar. "If someone is found to have voted twice or used fraudulent means to influence the election outcome, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The incident has prompted calls for greater vigilance and stricter verification processes to prevent electoral fraud. Activists and community leaders in the region have urged the Election Commission to implement more robust measures to ensure that each voter is accurately identified and to maintain public trust in the election process.