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The controversy stems from allegations by a group of villagers supporting local leader Uttam Jankar who reportedly received only 843 votes from the village, compared to 1,003 votes for the BJP candidate, Ram Satpute
The villagers proposed holding a trial election on December 3 and even assured the administration that they would bear the entire cost but the administration rejected the request. (Dnyaneshwar Saolkhe/News18)The villagers proposed holding a trial election on December 3 and even assured the administration that they would bear the entire cost but the administration rejected the request. (Dnyaneshwar Saolkhe/News18)
Markadwadi, a small village in Malshiras taluka, has turned into a fortress as residents announced plans to hold unauthorised ballot paper voting on Tuesday after the local leader received fewer votes from the village compared to the BJP candidate in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections.
The local administration, concerned about law and order, has imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, prohibiting gatherings in the village from December 2-5.
The unrest began when villagers expressed distrust in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and declared their intention to hold a ballot-based election to challenge the official results of the Maharashtra polls. The administration has strictly warned that any attempt to conduct the ballot voting will lead to legal action.
Markadwadi’s election officer and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Vijaya Pangarkar, issued the order to enforce Section 144, citing fears of public unrest. The notification clarified that any violation, including attempts to organise unauthorised voting, would attract criminal charges under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
“The villagers cannot conduct any voting process independently. Elections, as per Indian law, are solely under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. Any violation of this law will result in strict action,” Pangarkar stated in the notice.
Amid growing tensions, Markadwadi has transformed into a police stronghold. Large contingents of law enforcement have been stationed in the area to maintain peace and prevent any disruptions. The heavy police presence aims to deter villagers from proceeding with their ballot voting plans. The situation escalated as the administration urged villagers to cancel their plans, stating that no government staff would be provided for conducting such an election. Despite these warnings, villagers initially held a meeting to finalise their preparations though the imposition of Section 144 has added significant pressure.
The controversy stems from allegations by a group of villagers supporting local leader Uttam Jankar. In the recently concluded assembly elections, Jankar reportedly received only 843 votes, compared to 1,003 votes for the BJP candidate, Ram Satpute.
Though Jankar won from the region, his supporters claim that the village historically delivered 80 per cent of its votes to him in past elections, including the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year. They demanded an independent re-vote using ballot papers to verify their claims. The villagers proposed holding a trial election on December 3 and even assured the administration that they would bear the entire cost. They submitted a written request to the tehsildar, asking for government officials to oversee the process. However, the administration rejected the request, citing legal and procedural constraints.
Despite the administration’s firm stance, many villagers remain determined to proceed with the ballot voting. A section of the community believes that this alternative election is the only way to prove their claims of irregularities.
Tensions in the village have heightened due to disagreements between Jankar’s supporters and opposition groups. Some villagers, opposing the re-vote, have accused Jankar’s group of acting without consulting the entire community and warned that they would boycott any such election.
This is not the first time Markadwadi has been embroiled in election controversies. In previous elections, supporters of Jankar have raised concerns about voting discrepancies. However, the administration has consistently maintained that all official elections are conducted transparently, with no evidence of malpractice. The current dispute marks an unprecedented escalation, as villagers attempt to take matters into their own hands.
For now, all eyes are on Markadwadi as the administration’s strict imposition of Section 144 and heavy police deployment are expected to deter any attempts to conduct the ballot voting.
