Bhopal
After publicly expressing resentment against the State Election Commission over low voter turnout and attributing the same to slackness in distribution of voter slips by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), BJP on Thursday urged SEC to ensure distribution voter slips on war footing for the areas where polls are remaining.
A delegation of BJP leaders met SEC officers on Thursday and handed a memorandum to them complaining about lack of awareness drive from the commission which according to them led to voters facing problems in polling.
The leaders in the memorandum alleged that large numbers of voters were deprived from voting as they did not receive voter slips. This happened despite these locals having their names enrolled in the electoral rolls.
Without any prior information, the SEC divided older wards which led to large numbers of locals getting deprived of voting, the party alleged.
Referring to Election Commission of India guidelines of making BLOs responsible for handing voter slips at public’s doorsteps, the BJP leaders urged the commission to identify and punish slack BLOs through collectors.
The leaders urged the commission to direct collectors to ensure that the voter slips are distributed on war footing in regions where polling is yet to take place under Local Body polls.
On Wednesday, large numbers of voters had complained of not receiving voter slips in Bhopal and other cities which is why they could not find their polling booths and could not cast vote.
The BJP had blamed this for low voter turnout
“Complaints of voter slips not distributed have come from several quarters. Moreover, members of the same family were divided into more than one polling booths resulting in low voter turnout. The State Election Commission should answer as to who is responsible for it,” said Lokendra Parashar, media in-charge BJP.
The BJP delegation comprised leaders including – Bhagwandas Sabnani, Alok Sanjar, Rahul Kothari and others.
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