By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 11 Jul: Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress President Karan Mahara has demanded that the counting of votes for Mangalore and Badrinath assembly by-elections should be done under the supervision of CCTV cameras, and the presence of other officials other than the designated election officials restricted at the counting stations.
Congress has written a letter in this regard to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, and the Chief Election Officer, Uttarakhand. In his letter, Karan Mahara accused the ruling BJP of openly misusing the government machinery in order to manipulate the election. He also reminded that the Congress Party has lodged several complaints regarding “open misuse” of the state machinery during the campaigning period as well as during the polling. Mahara further claimed that an incident of firing was also reported from Libbarheri village in Manglaur assembly constituency during the polling, in which several rounds were fired in the presence of the administration and the police; and that several Congress workers were seriously injured. (This allegation has been denied by the administration). He also claimed that firing was done by goons from outside the state with illegal weapons and that the voters were also attacked with lathis.
Mahara alleged that the way incidents have taken place during the election campaign and polling, the Congress party is apprehensive about the misuse of government machinery as well as disturbances also on 13 July, the day when the votes are to be counted.
He said that for a fair counting of votes, it is necessary that entry of officials other than the designated officials deputed for vote counting be completely banned in the counting rooms. He also demanded that special observers be appointed to monitor the counting of votes in both the assembly constituencies. Also, the counting of votes in both the assembly constituencies should be held under CCTV camera coverage.
