HYDERABAD: A major controversy was created during the presidential election on Monday when word spread that Congress MLA from Telangana, Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka, had mistakenly voted for NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu instead of the joint opposition nominee, Yashwant Sinha.
Seethakka, who is an Adivasi MLA from Mulugu, an ST reserved constituency, however, clarified that this was not correct. She claimed that she found ink had spilled on the ballot paper. She immediately asked the presiding officer for another ballot for casting her vote again.
Ink blurred ballot, not crossvote, says Cong legislator Seethakka
Officials, brought the issue to the notice of Election Commission of India (ECI), which turned down her request, saying that it was not possible to provide another ballot as per rules.
"Wrong speculations are roaming about my #PresidentialElection vote if I voted for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) why would I ask for another ballot before I caste (sic) my vote?" she later tweeted. "Their was sketch mark on top of the ballot not on the names so I asked another ballot EC denied it, voted for My party candidate."
Congress polling agent in the election, former MLA Maheshwar Reddy, also spoke to authorities on providing another ballot, but it did not yield any positive response from the election authorities.
Later speaking to reporters, Seethakka said that she had marked her preference properly, but there was ink on her ballot paper and asked for a new one.
As Seethakka had no choice, she dropped her ballot in the box.
"I have voted as per my conscience in the election. I don't know whether my vote is valid or not. It will be known after counting of votes," the Congress MLA said.
