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Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, May 28
Around 13 per cent of the EVMs in Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly polls had developed snags and the number is increasing, derailing the election process, alleged Samajwadi Party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chadhury.
Demanding an extension of voting hours or the cancellation of elections, Chaudhury charged the EC of being hand-in-glove with the ruling party to ensure BJP candidates’ victory by preventing the opposition supporters from casting their votes.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference, Chaudhury alleged that a dangerous trend was being witnessed in UP bypolls for the first time where snags were purposely being developed in the EVM machines to help the ruling party.
“We have reports that government machinery is being used to the hilt in these two constituencies where half a dozen ministers have been campaigning. We have reports that liquor and money was freely used by the ruling party to influence voters till Sunday night after it became clear that the public rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi also did not have any impact,” said the SP spokesperson.
Chaudhury said SP president Akhilesh Yadav had apprehended such misuse of EVMs and had requested the use of ballot papers.
The party has already filed a written complaint with the Election Commission and a delegation would soon be meeting EC officials with their petition.
Chaudhury alleged that disappointed by their defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the BJP is making a mockery of democracy by using every trick in the trade to retain Kairana and Noorpur.
Despite heavy disruption of voting around 11 per cent voters had cast their votes in Kairana and 6 per cent in Noorpur during the first two hours.
The EVM machines developing snags in Kairana within two hours of polling has caused massive chaos forcing people to return without casting their votes.
Speaking to this reporter, Rashtriya Lok Dal candidate in Kairana Tabassum Hasan, being supported by the joint opposition, described the breakdown of the EVM machines as a conspiracy to prevent Muslims from casting their vote.
She said it could not be without design that EVM machines of only Muslim booths in mixed localities were developing snags, for instance booth number 98 at Bannat village and booth numbers 41 and 42 in VV inter-college in Shamli.
She alleged that EVM machines from booth numbers 270 to 275 were not working.
“We had asked fasting Muslims to beat the heat and cast their vote early in the morning. Most had queued up since 6 am but had to return without casting their vote as they were asked to return when the machines are replaced. Imagine how difficult it is for them to return when the heat is at its peak,” she said.
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