"Officer asked me to press button no.2 to vote for BJP" - Voters complain

In a shocking case, voters in Karnataka on Thursday alleged that polling officer pressurised them to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This incident took place at a polling booth in Karnataka's Benson Town near United Theological College, where the voters had come to exercise their franchise in the second phase of Lok Sabha election on April 18.

According to Times Now News, a voter alleged that the polling official at the booth asked the people to press button number 2, showing the BJP's lotus symbol. On hearing this, shocked voters started shouting and making videos of the official incharge. To which the polling officer outrightly denied the allegations. Also, when asked if she had asked the electorates to vote for the saffron party, she totally denied it.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) officials have said that they would take strict action against the official if the allegations are found to be true.

Voting in Karnataka for the second phase of Lok Sabha Election 2019 had kicked off today. The state witnessed polling exercise in 14 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, while the remaining 14 seats will go to polls in the third phase on April 23.