The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, VS Sampath on Sunday held meetings with political parties to ascertain their grievances about the election process. In a one-to-one meeting political parties apprised the CEC who was on day’s visit to the capital about hurdles in election campaigning and voting process besides claiming moral high ground vis-à-vis rival party.
Interestingly, political parties were equivocal in complaining about ill-informed officials and rued lack of clarity on resources pressed for election campaigning besides delay in granting permission of using helicopters campaigning.
“There is no clarity on number of vehicles to use. So, we have requested the CEC that under the expenditure limit the decision to use the number of vehicle should be left at our discretion,” said BJP Vice-president, Rakesh Prasad.
The BJP also requested the CEC to increase the number of para-military forces in Jharkhand to ensure peaceful elections. According to sources, the BJP brought some names in Khunti parliamentary constituency in the CEC’s notice accusing such persons to be hand in glove with ultras and using these anti-establishment forces to harass candidates for the constituency. The BJP has also requested the CEC to pay attention to district administrations action against party workers under certain sections and harassing workers however complain was not made in written format, said the source.
later, the Congress party complained the CEC about the purported misuse of Jharkhand State Cricket Stadium (JSCA) and allowing the premises for organizing concert of latest singing sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh. The Congress’ list of complains included shifting of booths in Hatia and in Kanke on grounds of supposed “bogus voting”.
“We have raised the issue of booth at Ram Tahal Chaudhary School at Kanke. A lot of bogus voting happens there hence we have request for shifting that booth besides relocation of another booth at Hatia. We have also raised few points about Amitabh Choudhary,” said General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee, Anadi Brahma.
However, the JVM (P) defended its candidate for Ranchi and hit back at Congress for deflecting attention from its shrinking support base. The party representatives also apprised the CEC of the sequence of events that led to registration of case against JVM chief Babulal Marandi for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct.
“Ground is slipping under Congress’ feat that is why they are raising this issue. Organisers are different,” maintained a JVM (P) representative.
Other political parties to meet the CEC were the Rashtriya Janta Dal, CPI, CPI (M), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, AJSU party and JD (U).
Interestingly, while major political parties raised objection about the cap put by district administration on the number of vehicles used for election campaign left parties complained otherwise. The left parties, CPI and CPI (M), complained about major political parties alleging them to use more than required number of vehicles for campaigning.
Despite mud-slinging by political parties, they were united against district administrations’ alleged highhandedness on use of party flags. The AJSU party drew attention of the CEC towards action taken by police-administration for putting up party flag at party workers’ houses and offices. The party in this backdrop also reminded the commissioner of March 4 meeting at Delhi in which the commission had clarified that a party worker can put up a flag at his house. In a press communiqué, the AJSU party alleged that the ground reality is opposite to what was promised.
