A chance click of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with BJP symbol Lotus after casting his vote in Lucknow, which went viral on social media, would have landed him in trouble for violating model code of conduct.
The picture has also raised a finger on the conduct of the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure impartial, free and fair polling in the state during the urban local bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh.
The Union Home Minister — who is also an MP from Lucknow, once represented by former PM A B Vajpayee — used his franchise at the Nursery Municipal School at Mall Avenue. After casting his vote, photographers clicked him showing his inked finger which also had the symbol of BJP Lotus in the background. "It looked as if Rajnath was appealing to people for voting in favour of the BJP," said Ashutosh Tripathi, a photographer.
When the picture got viral on the social media and news portals, opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, Congress and BJP lodged a protest. Realising their mistake, the polling officers at the booth immediately removed the painting of Lotus on the wall just behind the EVM.
"It is a gross violation of code of conduct. It was a deliberate attempt and misuse of official machinery to benefit the ruling BJP and its candidates," alleged Capt SJS Makker, a Congress spokesperson.
"Where is the BJP at fault. Polling officials seems to have forgot to remove the painting which unnecessarily created a controversy at the Mall Avenue polling booth," clarified Vijay Bahadur Pathak, BJP state general secretary.
A painting of Lotus was inadvertently left at the wall of the classroom where the Union Home minister and other VVIPs cast their votes. Polling continued for over three hours. It was removed only when opposition objected to it after Rajnath's picture got viral on the social media.
"We will hold an inquiry and initiate action if anyone registers a complaint," assured Ved Praksh, SEC spokesperson.
