Now, Gujarat MLA Says Those Who Don’t Vote for BJP Won’t Get Work

Ramesh Katara claimed that “Modi sa’aab” had installed cameras in polling booths and could ascertain who voted for the BJP and who did not.

New Delhi: A BJP MLA from Gujarat reportedly told people on Monday that if they did not vote for the BJP, they would not be provided work. His comments come close on the heels of Maneka Gandhi’s censure by the BJP for making a similar statement.

Ramesh Katara, the Fatehpura MLA, told people that there should not be “any room for error” in voting for the BJP, claiming that “Modi sa’aab” has installed cameras in voting booths. He was campaigning for the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Dahod, Jaswant Sinh Bhabor.

According to the news agency ANI, Katara added, “Who voted for BJP, who for Congress, it can be seen. Aadhaar Card & all cards have your photo now, if there are less votes from your booth then he will come to know who did not cast vote & then you will not get work.”

On Monday, the Election Commission censured BJP leader Maneka Gandhi after she told Muslim voters in her constituency that if they do not vote for her, they shouldn’t expect any help from her. “I have already won the election, so you decide,” Gandhi said. She has been prevented from campaigning for 48 hours due to the comments.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Azam Khan were also censured for their statements by the EC on Monday.

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While the EC commission has begun the practice of installing CCTV cameras in polling booths to ensure that elections are free and fair, its instructions explicitly state that the voter’s secrecy is protected. The cameras are only meant to ensure that the polling officer has identified the voter, indelible ink has been applied and the EVM’s controlling unit has been initialised.