Kannauj: SP alleges VVPAT shows 'lotus' when 'cycle' button pressed, wants DGP removed
Lucknow, Apr 29: The opposition Samajwadi Party urged the Election Commission on Monday to remove Uttar Pardesh's police chief OP Singh from the post, alleging he was "favouring" the ruling BJP and trying to influence elections.
It also alleged that in at least two polling booths in Kannauj, from where SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple is contesting the Lok Sabha election, the Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines recorded the vote for the BJP when the ballot was cast for the SP.
It also claimed that police issued "notes" warning SP supporters in the constituency, asking them to remain inside their home after casting their vote.
SP leader Dharmendra Yadav said Director General of Police Singh was "misusing" the government machinery to help the BJP.
"We demanded from the EC to remove him immediately," he told reporters after meeting Chief Electoral Officer L Venkatenshwar Lu.
Yadav led an SP delegation to the EC official and submitted a memorandum demanding that the DGP be immediately removed. The document also highlighted the issue of "faulty" EVMs.
"Police are terrorising minority voters. The force is being misused in favour of the BJP. We have apprised the CEO about it," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.
The memorandum specifically highlighted the booths in Kannauj where EVMs allegedly malfunctioned.
In booth number 482 and 483, the party claimed, the VVPAT showed 'lotus' (BJP poll symbol) slip, when 'cycle' (SP symbol) button was pressed.
Chowdhury alleged that a police inspector in Kannauj was working as a "BJP agent". The SP delegation requested the CEO to look into the matter to ensure free and fair polls.
Giving details, MLC Rajpal Kashyap said that from booth number 197 in the Tirwa assembly segment (Kannauj) SP booth agents were taken away by police "on directions of the local BJP MLA".
Kashyap alleged that at booth number 92 of the same area, BJP agents "snatched" voter slips from people and cast votes themselves with "the help of police".
The party also alleged that "red cards" (warning notes) were issued to a large number of SP supporters by police restricting them in their homes.
"You can affect peaceful polls. After casting your votes, you should take rest in your house. Do not roam outside," reads a "red card" issued to Indra Kumar Gupta in Gursahaiganj.
Kashyap alleged, "Police are openly working as BJP workers and specific details have been sent to the EC."
When contacted, the chief electoral officer said, "A report in this case has been sought from the home department."
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
