Opp hits out at BSP’s Parishad win
Lucknow, Jan. 28: The entire Opposition on Thursday strongly criticised the ruling BSP’s sweeping victory in the recent elections to the Vidhan Parishad through local bodies.
Raising the issue through an adjournment notice in the state Assembly, the Samajwadi Party alleged that the ruling BSP had misused the state machinery and had threatened the voters to win 34 out of the 36 seats in the Upper House.Ambica Choudhury of the Samajwadi Party said that the BSP had fielded relatives of ministers in order to use the ministers’ clout to its advantage. “The entire state machinery — from the district magistrate to the lekhpal and from the SSP to the inspector — was working on behalf of the ruling party. Voters were either threatened with dire consequences or were lured with money. Nominated members were allowed to cast their vote, defying all democratic traditions,” he said. Mr Choudhury cited several instances to prove his point. He also read out numbers of ministers’ cars that were used to kidnap voters who were not ready to toe the line.
“The district magistrates allowed helpers for voters who were literate. The helpers worked as observers and made sure that the voters cast their vote in favour of the BSP,” he added.
Om Prakash Singh of the BJP said that the irregularities committed by the ruling party this time had polluted the voting process and had weakened democracy. “Village pradhans were lured with gifts and those who did not yield were threatened by the police,” he said.
The BJP leader said that changes were needed in the election process in order to protect it from such practices that ensured the election of money and muscle power.
Age Correspondent
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