Mayawati to address 8 rallies in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati will be on a whirlwind tour later this month, addressing eight election rallies in four days in Rajasthan, which goes to poll on December 7.

“Behen (sister) Mayawati will address two election rallies each day on November 25 and 26, and again on December 1 and 2,” the party’s treasurer and state in-charge Devilal Mahalana said.

“Mayawati had been to Rajasthan during previous elections, but she had only addressed workers’ meetings,” Mahalana said, indicating it would be the first time the BSP chief would address a public gathering in the state.

He said the places of rallies were yet to be decided, but added that Mayawati will address the public where “the BSP is strong, especially in eastern part of Rajasthan”.

Last month, Mayawati had announced in Delhi that her party will contest the elections in Rajasthan alone.

Going by the results of past elections, the BSP move may impact poll prospects of the ruling BJP and the Congress in at least 60 seats in the state. The BSP had got 7.6% votes in the 2008 elections, winning six seats. In the 2013 polls, the party’s vote share dropped to 3.37% and the number of seats came down to three. AIZAWL: Security of the chief electoral officer of poll-bound Mizoram has been beefed up following demand for his exit from the state by Monday, police said Saturday.

Coordination Committee, an umbrella body of major civil society and student organisations, had demanded CEO Shashank’s removal shortly after the Election Commission removed a principal secretary-level state officer on charges of interfering with the poll process. The election to the 40-member Assembly will be held on November 28. The results will be out on December 11.

A senior police official told PTI that additional security personnel have been deployed at the office and official residence of Shashank since Thursday night.

Security was also beefed up in various places of Aizawl following the Committee’s demands, the official said. “The NGO Coordination Committee requested Shashank not to continue his job by leaving his post as CEO and also leave the state of Mizoram before dusk on November 5,” a statement issued by the umbrella organisation said.

Accusing the chief electoral officer of working against the spirit of “free, fair and peaceful” polls, the NGO had urged the authorities to replace him.

On Friday, the Election Commission had directed removal of Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo.