The Congress presidential polls will be held by a secret ballot and no one will get to know who voted for whom, the party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Wednesday, claiming that a level-playing field has been ensured for both candidates.
In the polls, Shashi Tharoor is pitted against Mallikarjun Kharge, who is seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to Gandhi family. However, the party and both candidates have maintained that Gandhis are neutral in the polls. Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, Mistry said party's poll authority has ensured a level playing field. On individuals canvassing for one candidate or the other, the poll authority cannot stop any individual from campaigning, he said. "But as far as the level playing field is concerned, we have tried our level best to see to it that it gets implemented," he said in response to a question on Tharoor's reported comments that some aspects of the poll suggest an uneven playing field.
Mistry demonstrated to reporters the ballot boxes, ballot paper and how votes would be cast. He said sealed boxes would be transported to Delhi, kept in a strong room at AICC headquarters and opened in Delhi. PNS
The ballot papers would be mixed before counting starts.
Mistry's remarks and demonstration come a day after Tharoor stated that he expects the central election authority (CEA) to clarify publicly that the vote will be conducted by a secret ballot, complete with sealed ballot boxes to be opened in Delhi before the candidates and their agents, and the votes mixed together before counting starts.
Tharoor had also claimed that many electors have been instructed by "their leaders" to support his rival, but they may eventually vote for him in a secret ballot. Asked about reports that some delegates fear that siding with a particular candidate may go against them in the party, Mistry said, "I am surprised that political workers are afraid.
"I have been saying repeatedly that it is a secret ballot. Who voted for whom is not going to be known. No one would get to know how many votes were received from which state. What bigger assurance can there be. This is a secret ballot. If somebody feels that he would be victimised that is not there, we assure that," he said adding if something specific is brought to his knowledge, it will be rectified.
On how many complaints have been filed by the candidates till now, Mistry said the party's poll body has received only one. He did not disclose who had filed the complaint.