In a shocking incident during the Assam Legislative Assembly elections yesterday, a Muslim polling officer at a polling station in Bongaigaon constituency stopped the voting process to perform namaz inside the polling booth itself. The event has sparked strong public backlash, with locals calling it a blatant violation of election rules and secular norms at a government-designated polling centre.
The incident took place at the 1st Polling Station at 59 No. Bijoygaon J.B. School in the Bongaigaon Legislative Assembly Constituency. According to reports, voting had been proceeding peacefully on polling day, Thursday, April 9. However, at one point during active voting hours, the polling officer stopped the voting process and went ahead to offer namaz inside the classroom used as the polling booth. Voters who had arrived to cast their ballots were asked to wait outside.
A voter captured a video of the incident on a mobile phone, and the video began circulating on social media and reached local media. The footage shows the officer engaged in prayer inside the booth while voters wait outside the room. As the video was taken through a partially opened door, it can’t be seen whether other polling officers and agents were inside the room during the namaz.
Local residents have reacted sharply to the incident, describing the act as a serious breach of the Model Code of Conduct and election protocols, which require polling stations to remain strictly neutral and free from any religious observances that could influence or disrupt the process. A local also noted that a Namghar, a Vaishnav place of worship, is located inside the school premises, and therefore, offering Islamic prayer in the same compound is highly objectionable.
Notably, the conduct of the officer violates multiple regulations and the code of conduct prescribed by the Election Commission of India. As per the regulations, polling must be continuous and orderly during the fixed hours. Voting is allowed to be halted only in extreme situations like riots, violence, booth capturing, natural calamity or other such uncontrollable incidents. The rules do not allow stopping the process for personal prayers of the officials or any such personal purposes.
During the voting process, the polling station, even if located in a school or other public building, is under the exclusive control of the Presiding Officer for the sole purpose of conducting the poll. There is no allowance for using the premises or any part of the booth for personal non-official activities while the poll is underway.
The station must remain neutral, secular, and dedicated exclusively to voting-related duties. For this reason, religious establishments are not allowed to be used as voting stations.
Officers on poll duty are subject to ECI’s superintendence and discipline. Any breach of official duty is a cognizable offence under Section 134 of the RP Act, 1951.
Assam recorded a highest-ever 85.38% voter turnout in the single-phase election yesterday. The number is set to go up after finally tally and inclusion of Service Voters & Postal Ballots.
