The State Congress has raised concern over the inordinate delay in the return of polling parties from Bastar and demanded a probe on Saturday.
Bhupesh Baghel, president, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC), also met with Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) Sunil Kujur and alleged that the State Government was not cooperating in bringing back the polling parties.
Baghel, while addressing a press conference here at party State headquarters Congress Bhawan, raised a question why it was taking more than 50 hours for poll parties to arrive at the respective district headquarters when they could reach the polling station within 12 hours prior to
voting. Polling parties were forced to stay in police camps along with EVMs and a possibility of manipulation in voting machine during this period cannot be ruled out, Baghel said.
The party chief, expressing concern for the families of polling parties, said they are anxious to have them (polling parties) back and appropriate arrangements must be made in this connection. According to the CGPCC chief, around 200 poll parties have not made to the district headquarters.
Over the marriage issue of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Baghel asked what prompted him to accept his marital status now. Marriage was a personal issue but after the submission of the affidavit it becomes a public document and could be talked over now, he added.