Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) has levelled charges against both the prominent political parties—BJP and JMM—into the fray at littipara for using money and other unfair means to purchase voters. The party expressing no-confidence over the poll machinery placed in the constituency has demanded the Election Commission to pull up its shocks.
A delegation led by former Minister and party leader Bandhu Tirkey handed over a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer l Khiangte on Friday, requesting him to intervene. “Both the BJP and the JMM have stationed their top leaders, MlAs and MPs in the constituency who are using their clout to influence the electorates. Ruling BJP is offering bribes whereas the JMM people are distributing liquor and handia to the voters. The Commission is required to look into the issue and keep a tab on the parties pumping in crores of rupees ahead of the bypoll. We have asked the CEO to appoint additional observers in all the four blocks of the littipara constituency,” said Tirkey.
The party is of the view that additional measures need to be taken to ensure free and fair election. This apart, it also objected to the date of the bypoll which is falling on the Easter on April 9 and has urged the EC to defer it to any other suitable date.
On the other, unfazed BJP continued with its rhetoric against the main rival JMM. Addressing one of the three public meetings attended by Chief Minister Raghubar Das at Dhawadanga of Hiranpur block, he blasted the party for its misrule and sought votes for BJP nominee Hemlal Murmu.
“You have to make choice between development and backwardness. The choice is yours. It is not difficult to compare between the previous Governments in most of them the JMM has been a partner. We after coming into power have transformed the entire functioning of the Government. All the steps we have taken are in accordance with development of the State and also Santhal Pargana region,” said the CM. Today is the last day of his stay in the constituency and after a break he is expected to join the campaign trail again next week.
Meanwhile, the JMM continued with its jibe against the BJP and alleged that the saffron party was openly inviting people from littipara to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s April 6 programme at Sahibganj.
“Invitation cards are being openly distributed at the Chief Minister rally for the PM’s programme. The party machinery is busy urging the voters to come there and get influenced by the freebies offered by the PM. We have been saying this and would again consult the Election Commission,” said JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.