No, vote tampering in Punjab was not ignored by the media or public?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check

While the Supreme Court confirmed election malpractices in Punjab, the claim that the media and public ignored the issue is false. The Supreme Court set aside local body elections in 50 Punjab wards and overturned the Chandigarh mayoral result over ballot defacement, as reported by Economic Times and The Hindu. However, the issue was far from ignored: it sparked political protests, broad media coverage, and a unanimous resolution in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

1 claim checked
4 sources
Checked 8 Nov 2026
Main source: vote chori: Why Supreme Court cancelled elections in 50 Punjab wards and ordered repolls in 6 weeks? - The Economic Times

The post we checked

Criticism is dependent on aesthetics. . #TarkBharat #BJP #CJP #JantarMantar #Punjab

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Red flags

Lapse

The presiding officer of the Chandigarh mayoral election deliberately defaced eight ballot papers on camera, prompting Supreme Court intervention and criminal proceedings.

“The SC ordered criminal proceedings against former BJP office-bearer Anil Masih, for deliberately defacing 8 ballots and lying before the court” Supreme Court overturns mandate theft in ‘patently illegal’ Chandigarh mayor poll | Latest News India, 2024-02-20

What we checked

Vote theft was proven to have happened in Punjab.“The inquiry concluded that the elections in 50 wards had been compromised to an extent that justified setting them aside. The Supreme Court accepted the commission's recommendations and directed that”vote chori: Why Supreme Court cancelled elections in 50 Punjab wards and ordered repolls in 6 weeks? - The Economic Times + 1 more

What the post doesn't tell you

The Reel omits that the Supreme Court rulings and allegations of vote tampering were extensively reported by news organizations, led to widespread street protests, and were unanimously condemned by the Punjab Assembly.
Economic Times reported that the Supreme Court cancelled elections in 50 Punjab wards after an inquiry found electoral irregularities and voter intimidation.
The Hindu reported that the Supreme Court overturned the Chandigarh mayoral poll result after video footage showed the presiding officer defacing valid votes.

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “Viewers are led to believe that proven vote theft occurred in Punjab, but it is being ignored by the media or public.”

The argument alleging media and public suppression fails because its core premise—that no one is talking about the proven vote theft in Punjab—is false.

Short version

⚠️ MISLEADING 👉 Claims that vote tampering in Punjab was ignored by the public and media are false, as the issue sparked broad news coverage and political protests. 👉 The Supreme Court overturned Chandigarh mayoral results and set aside 50 local body elections, which Economic Times and The Hindu extensively reported. 📰 Sources: National Herald, The Tribune 🔎 Full check: send this post to @checkthis.chat