Amid high drama on the eve of the State’s crucial sixth and last phase of polling in 18 lok Sabha constituencies, UP Police and Election Commission officials raided the BJP’s office and seized campaign material, drawing vociferous protests from the party. However, within hours it “closed” the case.
On a complaint lodged by the AAP, police on Sunday raided the office of the BJP in Sigra and found some readymade clothes kept for distribution among party workers. The electoral officers were still examining whether the storage of clothes at the party office was legal or not when the last news came in.
The BJP workers protested the raid blaming the electoral officers for being biased as the party leaders had recently demanded the transfer of the Returning Officer. According to information, the AAP leaders lodged a complaint with the election office that some objectionable material such as liquor and large sums of money were being kept at the Sigra office of the BJP.
Acting on the complaint, the electoral officers along with police personnel in large numbers raided the office. This led to utter chaos at the BJP’s office for a while and when the officers revealed the reason behind the raid, party workers present on the occasion lodged a strong protest.
During the raid the police did not find any liquor or money but some clothes kept for electioneering. Meanwhile, the rumor mills had been churning overtime and the news spread that liquor and money had been recovered from the BJP office.
However, the Circle Officer of Sigra categorically denied recovery of these things and said that the electoral officers were examining whether the storage of clothes at party office was legal or not when the electioneering has already ended.
In Delhi, an Election Commission order about Sunday’s incident said: “On receipt of a complaint, a flying squad checked the vehicle at the office of the BJP in Varanasi.“After obtaining a report from special observer and after finding that no irregularity has taken place, the Election Commission has directed the release of the material and dropped further action.”
Asked about the raid, BJP Spokesperson Meenakshi lekhi rejected the charges and sought the CEC’s intervention, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh authorities are continuing to work at the behest of the State Government.
“I request the CEC to intervene and put the position in order,” she said, adding, “We want action by the constitutional body”.“They need to act now and act firmly to establish their authority,” lekhi said.
She also questioned why only the BJP office was raided and not that of others as “the poll authorities could have recovered a lot more had they raided others also”.She said the raid was conducted a day before polls only to pressurise the BJP supporters and workers so that they are unable to come out during polling.
“The district authorities claim that they are working under the Election Commission, but it seems they are still working under the state government’s authorities,” she said.In the meantime, elaborate security arrangements have been made for the last phase of polling in 18 lok Sabha constituencies spread over 14 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
Para-military forces took out flag marches on Sunday to instill confidence among voters in all the poll-bound constituencies.The Election Commission has stepped up security at the polling booths following complaints by political parties and now the booths will be manned by Central forces.
Special security arrangements have been made in Varanasi and Azamgarh, from where VVIPs are contesting the poll, Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said here on Sunday.This phase of election would be a challenge for the Election Commission as 19 per cent of the total 328 candidates in the fray have criminal backgrounds.