BMC Election 2017: Independent candidate voted for himself, but got zero votes, seeks probe

Mumbai: An independent candidate who contested the 21 February BMC Election 2017, has asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to probe what he called as ‘disappearance’ of votes cast by him and his family members.

“I voted for myself, so did my family members. But when counting of votes was completed, it showed that I had polled zero votes. This looks suspicious,” Shrikant Shirsat, who contested from the Saki Naka municipal ward in suburban Mumbai, said.

In his complaint to the SEC, Shirsat, who contested from ward number 164, said other candidates from his ward were mulling approaching court against “malpractices” in counting of votes.

The development comes amid allegations by some candidates who lost in recent Nashik civic elections, that EVMs were “manipulated”.