Naresh Meena's Dispute With SDM Amit Choudhary At Rajasthan Polling Booth Sparks Controversy

Naresh Meena, an independent candidate and former Congress member, slapped Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Choudhary after a heated argument at a polling booth in Rajasthan's Deoli Uniara. The incident was recorded on camera by a local, and now, the video is going viral on the internet.

According to the reports, the candidate had objections related to printing of his symbol on EVM.

Earlier, Congress had suspended Naresh Meena for anti-party activities after he decided to contest the elections independently against the party's official candidate KC Meena in the Deoli Uniara by-polls.

Bypolls and Political Dynamics

In the ongoing elections, seven assembly seats are up for grabs, including Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chorasi, Salumber, and Ramgarh. The BJP currently leads the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly with 114 seats, while Congress holds 65 seats. Voting for these constituencies will continue until 6 pm.

राजस्थान विधानसभा उप चुनाव, देवली उनियारा से निर्दलीय उम्मीदवार नरेश मीणा ने SDM को थप्पड़ मारा। pic.twitter.com/0sDhZxwnaJ

— News Times Today (@News_TimesToday) November 13, 2024

Of the seven seats being contested today, four are held by Congress. Two of these by-polls were necessitated by the deaths of sitting MLAs: Congress MLA Zubair Khan in Ramgarh and BJP MLA Amritlal Meena in Salumber. The remaining five vacancies arose when MLAs were elected as MPs in this year's Lok Sabha polls.

Political Tensions and Reactions

The altercation involving Naresh Meena has sparked reactions on social media. Priyanshu Kumar tweeted disapproval of Meena's actions, stating it was disgraceful for him to raise his hand against an SDM. Kumar described it as a stain on democracy and Indian administration.

The counting of votes for these bypoll election is scheduled for November 23. This election is crucial as it may impact the balance of power within the Rajasthan Assembly.

Naresh Meena's decision to run independently followed his exclusion from the Congress ticket list. His candidacy has added tension to an already competitive electoral landscape in Deoli Uniara.