Jaipur, Sep 1 (PTI) The Congress has accused the ruling BJP in Rajasthan of influencing the nomination process for urban local bodies polls, alleging that party nominees were not allowed to file nominations ahead of the deadline.
The deadline for filing nominations for the urban local body elections ended at 3 pm on Monday.
Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tikaram Jully alleged that BJP candidates were allowed to submit party symbol authorisations even after the deadline at several places.
“Not accepting the forms of Congress candidates who reached with party symbols before the stipulated time is murder of democracy,” Jully said.
He alleged irregularities in Bhilwara, Alwar, Baseri and Mathania and demanded that the State Election Commission take immediate cognisance of the matter.
Jully alleged that Congress candidates in Bhilwara were not allowed to submit their nominations and symbol authorisations, even though they were there before the time. He also alleged violation of rules in Alwar and claimed that forms of BJP candidates were accepted in Baseri even after the deadline.
“These incidents raise serious questions over the impartiality of the election process. This double standard in election rules under pressure from those in power is an attack on democracy,” he said.
The leader accused the BJP of stealing elections and said the Congress would challenge irregularities at every constitutional forum.
Jully’s allegations came as former Congress MLA Divya Maderna picketed the returning officer’s office at Mathania in Jodhpur district, allegedly over discrimination during the nomination process.
Maderna, who began the protest on Monday and sat through the night outside the official’s office, alleged that the local MLA and a BJP candidate were allowed to enter the RO office after the 3 pm deadline on Monday.
According to Maderna, the local police station officer received the MLA at the gate and escorted him inside the RO’s office, and a Congress candidate who was already inside was forced out.
“How can the same rule be different for two people?” she asked.
“If nobody is allowed to enter for the nomination process after 3 pm, how were the local MLA and his people allowed inside? If the gate was closed, how did a police officer take them inside?” Maderna asked.
She also wondered who ordered the police to remove the Congress candidate from the office.
Maderna said the issue went beyond treatment to one Congress candidate and questioned the fairness of the entire electoral process.
AICC general secretary and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot raised similar allegations while speaking to reporters in Barmer.
Pilot alleged that BJP candidates at several places, including Jodhpur and Alwar, submitted their party symbol authorisations after the deadline.
“How is it justified to accept the symbols of BJP candidates after the deadline? All this is recorded. Despite this, the state election commission is doing nothing,” he said.
Pilot accused the state election commission of working under pressure from the government.
Responding to a question about factionalism in the Congress, Pilot said it’s the BJP which is suffering from internal differences.
“There is factionalism in the BJP. Two candidates are reaching the same ward carrying the party symbol,” he said.
Pilot claimed that people had assessed the BJP government’s performance over the past two-and-a-half years and expressed hope that the Congress would form boards in the urban local bodies.
Elections are underway for 10,245 councillor posts in 309 urban local bodies. These include 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities.
Polling will be held in two phases, on September 9 and 11, and votes will be counted on September 14. Nominations can be withdrawn till September 3.
The heads of urban local bodies will be elected on September 21.
General meetings of municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipalities will be held on September 22. Elections for deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents will be held during these meetings.
Around 1.44 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the civic polls. A total of 16,465 polling centres will be set up across the urban local bodies. PTI SDA VN VN
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