Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024: MSCW Chief Rupali Chakankar Booked for Performing 'Aarti' of EVM Machine at Polling Booth

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024:  A case of violation of Model Code of Conduct has been registered against the Chairman of Maharashtra State Women Commission and NCP leader Rupali Chakankar after she had performed aarti in front of the EVM at a polling booth in Khadakwasla area in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency.

Chakankar visited a polling station in the Khadakwasala area. Before the start of polling, she brought an aarti thali and lamp into the polling station. She proceeded to conduct a religious ritual, worshipping the EVM machine present at the polling station. As a result, she has been charged by the Sinhagad Road Police Station in Pune.

EVM मशीनची पूजा केल्याप्रकरणी महिला महिला आयोगाच्या अध्यक्ष रुपाली चाकणकर यांच्या विरोधात गुन्हा दाखल#LokSabhaElection2024pic.twitter.com/9DzutxFQAb

— Lokmat (@lokmat) May 7, 2024

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Earlier in the day, the photo of Chakankar performing the 'aarti' of the EVM machine at the polling booth in the Khadakwasla area went viral. Many on social media tagged the Election Commission of India (ECI) and urged the EC to take action against her. The Khadakwasla area is part of the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, where Sunetra Pawar of the NCP is competing against Supriya Sule, the current MP representing Baramati.

Meanwhile, Assam topped voter turnout among the 11 States and Union Territories casting votes in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7, with a record of 74.86 percent by 5 p.m. Following closely was West Bengal at 73.93 percent, while Goa also witnessed a high turnout of 72.52 per cent. However, Maharashtra reported the lowest voter turnout among the states, with 53.4% casting their votes by 5 pm. Notably, Baramati in Maharashtra recorded the lowest turnout within the state, with only 45.68% voter participation. 

Overall, the average voter turnout across all constituencies stood at 60.19 per cent by 5 p.m. Noteworthy above-average turnouts were observed in Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh recorded turnouts of 56.01 per cent and 55.13 per cent, respectively, while Gujarat saw a turnout of 55.22 per cent by the evening.