A BJP delegation, calling on State Election Commission on Thursday, lodged a complaint against Sub-Divisional Officer, Ranchi, Anjali Yadav of discouraging the party workers by unnecessarily sitting on the application seeking permission for use of vehicles for its Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Candidates’ poll campaigning.
Through a memorandum handed over the State Election Commissioner NN Pandey, the delegation also complained about SDO was threatening the election agent of taking action against them if they tried to create unnecessary pressure on her.
“The SDO has been deliberately creating hurdles in the campaigning of our Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral candidates by not paying heed to our applications made to her seeking use of vehicles used for the same,” said Election Agent of Mayor, Pradeep Sinha.
The application submitted on April 2 was claimed to be received on April 3, but the office records indicated that it was received on the date of its submission, he added.
“When I called her requesting the expedite the process of clearing the application, a text message was receive on my mobile phone ‘Stop manipulating facts and creating unnecessary pressure…..don’t create unnecessary pressure else I will be forced to take action,” said Sinha.
Due to the delay in granting permission for using vehicles for campaigning, more than 24 hours were lost for which, besides the money charged by the vehicle owner, he added.
“I have requested the SEC to look into the matter so that no such incident takes place in future,” said Sinha. If she is not able to discharge duties due to her busy schedule as SDO, she must delegate her powers to other officials so that the work goes on smoothly, he added.
“The SEC heard the points put up by us and called up the Deputy Commissioner immediately, directing him to simplify the process of granting permission for campaigning purposes,” said Sinha.
Issue of not getting permission for bearing the expenses jointly for both Mayor and Deputy Mayor was also raised before the SEC as campaigning was being done jointly for both of them, he added.
For the first time in Jharkhand this year, Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral polls will be fought on party lines.
The State Election Commission on March 12 formally notified April 16 as the date for polling in 34 out of the 41 urban local bodies, bringing into force the model code of conduct.