The first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections took place on December 1, 2022. while political parties have started campaigning for phase two of the poll. Related to the Gujarat Assembly election a video is getting viral on social media sites in which a man can be seen standing near an electronic voting machine apparently stopped voters and cast votes on their behalf.
By sharing this video a user named Mustkim Mansuri App captioned: “ Bogus voting has started Buy such cheaters and collect the jail. The video is from the Varachha area where are the polling booths? The investigation is on @ECISVEEP @Jamawat3 @Vrajsinh-Rajput @OfficialAlpesh @Gopal_Italia @Veena_Rajput_ @NiraLi__ @HasanSafin ( English Translation)
Source: Twitter
Meanwhile, many other social media users are sharing a similar claim-
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
Fact Check:
To analyze the reality of the viral video the team of DFRAC first separate the keyframes and afterward did the reverse image search and found that the official youtube channel of TV9BanglaLive has uploaded a similar video 9 months ago. The headline of the video is: “ WB Municipal Election 2022 No voter at booth number 108 of ward no. 33 of South Dum Dum, agent casts his vote”.
Source: Youtube
On further searches, the team also found CPIM West Bengal has also posted a similar video on 27 February 2022. The headline of the post is: “ It’s a vote for development! It’s going on. Lakeview School, Booth No. 108, Ward 33, South Dum Dum Municipality.” (English Translation)
Source: Facebook
Meanwhile, we also found the tweet done by the official BJP Bengal which was uploaded on 27 February 2022. The tweet captioned: “TMC forces pressing the button before going to press the voting button. Stop the farce in the name of the election! Democracy today is ashamed, looted by TMC supporters!”
Source: Twitter
Conclusion:
It is clear from the fact check of DFRAC that the viral video is 9 months old and the video is from the 2022 Municipal Elections in West Bengal not of Gujarat.
