KANPUR: The state election commission ordered lodging of an FIR against senior BJP leader and Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey for getting herself photographed while casting her vote inside a polling booth and then uploading the frame on her personal Facebook page.
She was booked on two counts — breaching secrecy protocol and violating poll panel guidelines inside a booth at Hudson School premises.
Kanpur Nagar’s district election officer & district magistrate, Neha Sharma, told reporters that at least three complaints of poll code violations were recorded and FIRs were lodged against offenders, including the mayor.
Sharing her photograph on Facebook, Mayor Pramila Pandey wrote – “Pehle matdan, phir jalpan (Voting first, refreshments later). I exercised my voting rights at Hudson polling booth, all of you are requested to cast your vote.”
Speaking to reporters, the Kanpur Mayor said, “I am not aware who recorded or clicked my picture. I am not aware about an FIR registered against me. I will lodge a complaint with the administration for allowing mobile phones inside booths.”
Besides the mayor, the district election officer has also lodged an FIR against the former president of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Nawab Singh, for breaching the secrecy protocol. Official sources said, Nawab Singh shot his video while casting his vote and later made it viral on social media.
