JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to move the High Court to challenge pradhan’s election in Sikar’s Laxmangar panchayat samiti, where Congress party’s candidate Madan Lal defeated BJP’s Bhagirath Mal Godara through lottery. With this win, the Congress party has secured 98 pradhan posts in 21 districts equaling BJP’s number (98).
In a night-long political drama, the lottery to elect the pradhan was conducted at Laxmangar panchayat samiti, which is also PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara’s constituency, after 12:30 am on Friday.
In the same panchayat samiti, BJP had 13 members, Congress had 12 members and there was one independent member. Congress party had objected to voting by a woman voter, who had given birth to the third child a few of days ago, according to sources.
“She (voter) was not allowed to vote and later she approached the local (lower) court. When the court allowed her to cast her vote, she went voted. Later, the local SDM refused to count her vote on Congress party’s direction. Hence, it was a tie (12-12). The SDM, refusing to accept the order of the local court, said directions has to come from the High Court.”
“When we protested, the collector said the counting will be stayed till December 23 and asked us to approach the High court. However, late in the night (around 1 pm), the lottery was conducted and the Congress candidate was declared the winner. We will approach High Court to challenge the election of pradhan,” alleged Sarwan Singh Bagri, Pradesh Mantri, BJP.
The one independent candidate had voted in favour of Congress party. “When the court had allowed her (voter) to vote, they can’t reject her vote,” he added.
Meanwhile, on Friday, no Up-Zila Pramukh was elected in Tonk as no nominations were received from both the parties. A decision on conducting election in future will be decided by the state election commission.
Box
Jaipur: The BJP on Friday won Jhalawar Zila Pramukh’s post taking their overall tally to 13. BJP’s Prem Bai defeated Congress party’s Anu Yadav. Congress had won five and independents had bagged three posts.