Amethi, May 7: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh Lakku Venkateshwarlu on Monday refuted allegations of booth capturing levelled against the Congress during the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Amethi. Venkateshwarlu, while talking to media, said the charges levelled by the elderly woman in a video clip tweeted by Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Smriti Irani were found to be "baseless". Amethi Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh: Candidates, Current MP, Voting Date and Election Results 2019.

On Monday, the union minister tweeted the video clip in which the elderly woman had made claims that she was forced to vote for Congress. After the Irani tweeted the video, it went viral on social media.

The CEO of Uttar Pradesh said, “Following the complaint, the sector officer, senior officials and even observers rushed to the booth and spoke to the polling agents of the political parties, other officials in the polling booth following which it was conclusively found that the charges in the video clip were fabricated. Due to prima facie allegations in the clip, the presiding officer was summarily removed while the probe was going on.” Amit Shah Predicts Amethi Lok Sabha Election 2019 Results: 'Smriti Irani Will Defeat Rahul Gandhi by 1 Lakh Votes'.

Meanwhile, the Congress had also rejected the allegations levelled by Irani. The video clip had created a huge controversy with Smriti Irani claiming that booth capturing was being done at the behest of Congress President Rahul Gandhi who is seeking re-election in Amethi. Smriti Irani, who is the BJP candidate in Amethi, had tagged the video in her tweet and alleged that polls were being rigged.

Amethi went to polls in the fifth phase of parliamentary polls on May 6. Congress president Rahul Gandhi contested against Irani from this seat. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance did not name a candidate from the seat. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 08:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).