Tiwari visited Phoola polling station in Tiloi where Rahul was spotted inspecting an EVM (TOI published this picture). His reports say Rahul was inspecting an out-of-order EVM as voting had stopped there.
However, a TOI correspondent and a photographer who were present there confirm that voting was indeed on when Rahul was inspecting the machine. Our photographer had clicked him inside the voting chamber at three other booths in different locations in the Tiloi assembly segment of the constituency: Ashtabhuja Vidyalaya, Sahamau (9.20am), Prathamik Vidyalaya, Kura (9.30am) and Mohanganj government school (9.40am).
In our May 8 issue, we published pictures of Rahul at EVM enclosures at Phoola and Sahamau booths.
Tiwari met a number of people who were present at Phoola for their version. He even took the version of a photographer from a Hindi daily. But he didn't find it necessary to contact TOI lensman V Sunil, who had clicked Rahul at the above four different locations.
Following is the first hand account of what happened in Amethi on May 7 as given by TOI correspondents Shalabh, Shailvee Sharda and photographer V Sunil:
On Wednesday, Rahul landed at Fursatganj airport at 7.30am in a private jet. Three of his core team members — Kanishka Singh, Kaushal Vidyarthi and Mitakshara Kumari — got off from the same jet and accompanied him through the day as he went booth-hopping.
In what capacity Vidyarthi and Kumari, were allowed to roam around on polling day, is not known. The core team members were seen inside several polling stations and have been caught on camera by TOI at two separate places. The same administration had asked AAP party workers and family of Kumar Vishwas to leave Amethi when campaigning ended on Monday evening.
During his visit, Rahul was seen interacting with voters, heard out problems, shook hands and also obliged some enthusiastic polling staff when they requested for pictures.
The photograph that went viral was clicked at Phoola high school by TOI photographer V Sunil around 10.30am. It was the same place where Rahul spotted the lotus symbol on a blackboard. His core team members told the reporters about it.
Photojournalist V Sunil's account:
I started clicking pictures from Mohaiya Kesariya polling station apprehending that norms were being violated. A large crowd of people that included party workers and voters entered polling stations in large numbers along with Rahul.
Voters as well as polling staff came rushing to touch his feet. He addressed small groups at polling stations as if an MP was on "review visit". At Phoola centre a supporter told Rahul to organize meetings and visit village other than election time. Rahul shot back by saying — "Ensure victory this time and I will come more often."
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