WATCH: Independent Candidate Slaps SDM Outside Polling Booth Amid By-election in Deoli-Uniara

Jaipur: In a shocking incident at a Rajasthan polling booth, Naresh Meena, an independent candidate from Deoli-Uniara constituency, was seen on video slapping a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

The incident occurred at Samravata polling station, where a video shows Naresh Meena entering the booth and slapping SDM Amit Choudhary, who was on duty to monitor election protocols, before being restrained by police.

Naresh Meena, a former Congress leader, was recently expelled from the party for contesting the Deoli-Uniara by-election as an independent candidate after the party chose Kastor Chand Meena over him. Supported by the Bharat Adivasi Party, his decision to run as an independent raised concerns about a potential vote split in the bypolls.

Video surfaced on social media, Karni Sena claims, “If one-sided action is taken against brother Naresh Meena, we will not sit quietly, we will also take to the streets for our brother.”

“The SDM posted here used three of his people and made them vote,” Meena alleged. "Now the entire police force is here and has surrounded us. I would request people to go out and reply with their votes. Hit them with votes."

The by-election for the Deoli-Uniara seat was triggered after Congress leader Harish Chandra Meena, who had won the seat in both 2018 and 2023, vacated it to take up his position in the Lok Sabha following the general election.

Naresh Meena broke through the police cordon and escaped, according to the Sources.

There is civil unrest in the Samarwata village in Deoli-Uniara following the arrest of Naresh Meena.

Police are continuously trying to control the tension.

Voting for seven assembly seats across Rajasthan, including Deoli-Uniara, began early today under heavy security, with more than 9,000 personnel deployed at 1,914 polling stations. A total of 69 candidates are vying for victory in this high-stakes election, with results set to be announced on November 23.

Currently, the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is controlled by the BJP , which holds 114 seats, while the Congress has 65 seats.