Cong-BJP slugfest over postal ballots escalates
DEHRADUN: With a few days left for counting, a war of words has erupted between the Congress and the BJP in Uttarakhand over allegations of irregularities in postal ballots.
Former chief minister Harish Rawat has asked the Election Commission to take cognizance of irregularities in postal ballots in his constituency Lalkuan. He said the matter has been brought to the notice of the assistant returning officer. Rawat said that in many cases postal ballot papers have not reached the applicants of Lalkuan assembly constituency, from where he contested. “A large number of voters live in Lalkuan area, who are serving in police and Provincial Armed Constabulary(PAC). When only a few days are left for the counting of votes, when will these ballot papers reach such voters?” he asked.
Sharing his concerns on social media, Rawat said, “If the PSC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) of Rudrapur do not have postal ballots, then their rights are violated. But a challenging question has arisen for me as well. The matter is directly related to my electoral interest…But the reality is that I am not able to understand why only in Lalkuan they did not get the postal ballots. It is not a question of how much damage it will cause to me. The question is also whether this will raise serious questions on the impartiality of the electoral system! One question has been raised on votes cast by the same person in one centre, while the other question is being raised by the policemen belonging to Lalkuan area not getting postal ballots. If not today, then tomorrow the impartial observers will have to give the answer to the people involved in the election system.”
State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal has written a letter to the Uttarakhand chief electoral officer, alleging that the ballot papers issued to servicemen/ service voters in the army are bogus. He demanded cancellation of such votes.
“Voting facility is provided by the Election Commission to service voters serving in the army by issuing postal ballot papers, but it has come to my notice that such names exist in the list of postal ballots of service voters, issued by various district election officers, who have either retired, are on long leave or have passed away,” Godiyal said.
“As a process of conducting transparent and fair polls, if a vote is received in favour of such voters (retired, long-term leave voters and deceased employees), then those votes should be considered null and void, and action should be ensured as per rules by registering a case against the officer certifying that voter under relevant sections.”
In another letter to the CEO, Ganesh Godiyal said that after the announcement of assembly elections in Uttarakhand, tenders were invited for various construction works in Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd, which is contrary to the rules of the model code of conduct. “The process of assembly elections in Uttarakhand is not over yet and in view of the model code of conduct for the assembly elections, all such tenders which have been issued during this period should be cancelled and the Election Commission should take appropriate action in the matter.”
Responding to the allegations, BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said the Congress was creating unnecessary pressure on service voters, especially the soldiers of the military and paramilitary forces, by creating a ruckus on the postal ballot issue. “Congress leaders are working to influence the voters negatively by daily questioning the election process under a well- thought-out strategy.”
He appealed the EC to stop Congress leaders from making such statements. Taking a dig at Harish Rawat and other Congress leaders, Chauhan said, “Congress is clearly seeing its defeat in the elections. This is why it is now working to influence the rest of the postal voting process by making unwarranted allegations about postal ballot papers. Their effort is not only to put pressure on the personnel ensuring the voting process is smooth, but to reduce the vote percentage by spreading confusion on the fairness of the election process by making the remaining voters doubtful.”
Chauhan alleged that since most of the service voters are satisfied with the views of the BJP and the work of the government, the Congress is trying to mislead the voters and prevent them from voting. “The Election Commission should take cognisance of the impact of all such fake allegations being made without any basis and immediately stop Congress leaders from making such statements and take necessary action against the persons concerned,” he said.
Congress is trying to influence the rest of the postal voting process by making unwarranted allegations MANVEER SINGH CHAUHAN, BJP leader