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

The incident took place at Samravata polling station. The video shows Mr Meena walking into the polling booth, slapping SDM Amit Choudhary who was on duty to oversee election protocol - before being restrained by police. 

Mr Meena, a former Congress leader, was recently suspended by the party for contesting as an independent after it nominated Kastor Chand Meena over him for the Deoli-Uniara by-election. Backed by the Bharat Adivasi Party, Mr Meena's decision to run independently stirred concerns over potential vote splits in the bypolls. 

"The SDM posted here used three of his people and made them vote," Mr 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."

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? Naresh Meena (@NareshMeena__) November 13, 2024

"Some people were boycotting the panchayat elections. The SDM and Tehsil officers went to convince them during the negotiation, but the independent candidate slapped the SDM and the additional SP took the candidate out of the room. We are waiting for a case to be filed against him by the SDM. My team reached the spot and tried to convince the people in the village and the elections were being held peacefully," Superintendent of Police, Tonk, Vikas Sangwan said.

The by-election for the Deoli-Uniara seat was necessitated after Congress leader Harish Chandra Meena, who won the seat in 2018 and 2023, vacated it to serve in the Lok Sabha following the general election. 

Voting for seven assembly seats across Rajasthan, including Deoli-Uniara, began early today under tight security, with over 9,000 personnel deployed across 1,914 polling stations. In total, 69 candidates are competing in this high-stakes election, and results are expected on November 23.

Currently, the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is led by the BJP with 114 seats, while Congress holds 65.