Madhya Pradesh by-polls: Congress alleges booth capture, demands repoll at several centres

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL/BHIND: Ruckus was witnessed in at least six polling centres in Ater of Bhind, where by-polls were conducted on Sunday.

Congress has alleged booth capturing by BJP-supporters and accused the district administration of turning a blind eye towards the malpractices.

MP Congress chief Arun Yadav made a complaint to Election Commission in this regard. “As many as 19 officials were transferred after EVM tampering scandal but the Collector-SP are still in the district, helping the BJP candidate”, he said.

He alleged that Congress’ 40 poll agents were detained, many yet to return homes, candidate attacked and incidents of intimidation reported at several place. “Even a jawan was threatened and media persons were targeted”, he said.

“Despite the directions, there was no videography at sensitive booths”, he said. The Congress leader later in the day met Election Commission officers and apprised about the incidents.

They ranged from gun snatched from policeman, stone pelting at Congress candidate, musclemen at sensitive booths, smashing of mediamen’s van and booth capturing bids.

He has demanded re-poll at 41 booths in Ater. In the complaint, Congress has given list of  booths and has alleged that at these places the officials were in connivance with the BJP workers.

The party has said that its polling agents were threatened and forced out of the polling booths, which leads to suspicion that the election was not fair. Hence, it has demanded repoll at these booths in the constituency.