Himachal Polls: EVMs Carried In Private Car In Rampur, Alleges Congress. Urges ECI To Take Action

Congress legal cell working chairman Pranay Pratap Singh stated that the "utterly unfortunate incident" took place in his Vidhan Sabha constituency Rampur.

Representative Photo: Polling officials with EVMs and other election equipment on their way to polling stations ahead of Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday flagged a poll norm violation as it claimed carrying of EVMs in private vehicles for polling in Himachal Pradesh Election.

According to news agency PTI, the Legal and Human Rights Department of the state Congress complained to the Chief Election Officer of Himachal stating that the EVM machines have been seen to be carried to their stations (strong rooms) in unauthorised private vehicles.

Congress legal cell working chairman Pranay Pratap Singh said the "utterly unfortunate incident" took place in his Vidhan Sabha constituency Rampur, adding that as per the protocol, the vehicles hired to carry such machines to the strong rooms are to be requisitioned beforehand by the Election Commission or the returning officers.

"But in the case in hand, the machines were transferred in a private vehicle which had no prior authorisation or requisition from either the Returning Officer or the Election Commission," said Singh on the car in question, as quoted by PTI.

"It is most humbly requested to you to kindly take cognisance in the said matter at the earliest as if not done so, the ruling BJP party shall make a mockery out of the elections and will curtail not just the fundamental rights of the citizens but the independent powers and functions of the Election Commission of India too," the Congress complaint to CEO read.

The complaint also sought necessary actions with regard to the violations of the Model Code of Conduct to be taken on immediate basis as well as a criminal complaint against the offenders to be filed at the earliest.

Earlier, the Himachal Congress in another complaint alleged that the BJP had been circulating a "fake letterhead" in the name of Rajeev Shukla, AICC in-charge for Himachal, with a motive to influence the voting patterns in favour of the BJP candidates.

The party in its complaint stated that Shukla never wrote or signed any such letter.

"This letter is disseminating frustration level of BJP … This forged letter is nothing but a feeble attempt to damage the Congress but the BJP is not aware that the people of Himachal Pradesh are wise and intelligent enough to construe their malafide intentions," the complaint said, seeking strict action and registration of an FIR against the ruling BJP. 

(With Agency Inputs)