CM Shivraj fears Congress may disrupt counting

■ Confident of BJP victory

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday alerted local BJP leaders across the state to remain vigilant during the counting of votes for the November 28 assembly polls on Tuesday fearing that Congress may create hurdles at the time.

He also exuded confidence that BJP would return to power for the fourth time in a row in the state in the just- concluded assembly elections.

“I have asked all the presidents and office bearers of district units of BJP to be vigilant on the vote counting day as I apprehend that Congress may create trouble during the period. I have assured them not to fear anybody and guard against the disruptive elements,” Mr Chouhan told reporters after addressing all the district office- bearers of the party in an audio conference from here.

He castigated Congress for “staging an EVM drama” since the very day of polling on November 28 by raising false alarms over EVM tampering and casting doubts on the integrity of election authorities.

“Congress is preparing the ground to shift the blame of its ‘ certain

defeat’ in the elections on EVMs by spreading canards on EVM tampering. The Election Commission has already ruled out any such possibility. The Opposition party is questioning the integrity of a constitutional body. It is not good for democracy and for the country too,” he said.

Mr Chouhan said he was confident that BJP would retain power in the polls and his assertion was based on inputs from the party candidates and office bearers of the party across the state after the polls.

“BJP will secure a comfortable majority in the polls,” he added.