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TN ULB polls: Booth agent evicted for objecting to woman voter wearing hijab
The booth agent Girinandhan’s mother Amsaveni was contesting the polls on behalf of BJP from ward eight. While agents representing five other contestants from the ward raised no objection to the woman voter after verifying the name in electoral roll and locality, Girinandhan was the lone objector.
By
migrator
migrator
Madurai
The ongoing Hijab row raised its head during the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body Elections as well when a woman voter was doubted on her identity and denied right to cast her vote in a booth Madurai.
The booth agent Girinandhan’s mother Amsaveni was contesting the polls on behalf of BJP from ward eight. While agents representing five other contestants from the ward raised no objection to the woman voter after verifying the name in electoral roll and locality, Girinandhan was the lone objector.
Since the voter did not want to remove hijab, who entered the eighth booth (AV), a quarrel erupted between the voter and the agent and the situation spiraled into chaos.
Though the voter wearing a hijab had kept her face was uncovered, COVID norms forced her to wear masks.
However, the intervention of electoral authorities prompted removal of the booth agent, who was replaced with another agent Usha. Further, the agent Girinandhan was said to have argued with several voters since the polling began, sources said.
Melur Revenue Divisional Officer Firthouse Fathima said except for about ten to 15 minutes, polling ended peacefully in the booth. Teams comprising Revenue officials led by Tahsildar were monitoring the poll proceedings in the booth, the RDO said.
Sources said the booth has a total electorate of 1,125 and polling percentage of 70.81 was recorded with 423 women and 378 men casting their votes.
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