Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency Returning Officer Ashok Garg on Friday wrote to the Election Commission of India saying there was no substantial evidence to prove the allegations of rigging at booth number 87 of Asaoti village in Palwal.
Mr. Garg told The Hindu that only 8-10 people had come forward complaining about “booth capturing” and that too three days after the polling process was over. He said there was no concrete evidence to prove the veracity of the charges, and a report in this connection has been submitted to the poll panel.
‘Acting under pressure’
Bahujan Samaj Party’s Faridabad candidate Mandheer Singh Maan, however, alleged that the administration was acting under “pressure” from the BJP government in Haryana since most of the voters in the four booths in Asaoti village were traditional supporters of the BSP. “It was only after the EC ordered repolling at booth number 88, taking into account the videos [of a polling agent allegedly influencing voters] that had gone viral, that the other villagers mustered the courage to speak out. When around a dozen people are claiming that the booth was captured by the upper caste dabangs (musclemen), the Returning Officer should listen to them and recommend repolling. In fact, all the four booths in the village were captured by the dabangs and votes were cast on behalf of the Dalits and Muslims,” claimed Mr. Mann.
He had submitted a written complaint to Mr. Garg on Tuesday alleging capturing of booth number 87 and seeking repolling.
Many people in the village have come forward alleging capturing of booth number 86 and 87.
A BJP agent has been arrested and two others, including the presiding officer, booked for allegedly “influencing” the voters at booth number 88 in the village. The village sarpanch has also been suspended in this connection.
The Election Commission has ordered repolling at booth number 88 on May 19, the last phase of polling in the Lok Sabha election.