Raising suspicion on the administration, Congress’ candidate from Dharampuri and sitting MlA Pachilal Medha is staging dharna at the strong room at Dhar district headquarters, where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been kept.
Medha had also staged dharna at the strong room during 2008 Assembly elections, suspecting tampering of EVMs. While talking to The Pioneer, Medha said that he has duly received permission for staying at the strong room from district returning officer. He stated that there have been gross irregularities during polling and despite having complained to senior officials, no action was taken against the guilty officials, thus he has no faith on the administration.
He informed that on the polling day, he found at six booths, instead of placing the EVMs straight, they were placed in tilted position. “In this position, the illiterate and innocent tribals in the constituency could see only lotus symbol of the BJP that was on the first position. This created a lot of confusion,” he said, adding that when he pointed out this problem to the election officials, they did not take any action against the polling officials.
They simply placed the machines properly, after Medha objected the same. Similarly, there was a major problem at Kali Bawali booth of Manawar tehsil, where after pushing the button of Congress, light in front of the BJP blinked. On objecting this, the officials simply changed the machine, but did not tell clearly as what would happen to those 250 votes already polled there.
“Since, Shivraj Singh Chouhan is Chief Minister till December 8, the officials are working under his directives. And he knows how to pressurise the officials and get them worked for the BJP,” he added. He alleged that that he has lost faith in the administration and thus he is maintaining strict vigil on the strong room. Medha has placed his beddings in front of the strong room and having lunch and dinner at the same site. He would remain at the same place till December 8, when counting takes place.