MP Poll Results: After Balaghat, Congress Alleges Ballot Box Seal Tampering In Ujjain A Day Ahead Of Counting
A video of the seal of postal ballot box found broken from the Ujjain strong room had gone viral.
Ahead of the counting of votes in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections on November 3, the Congress on Saturday alleged malpractice claiming that the seal of the postal ballots were found broken in the strongroom in Ujjain. Taking to X, MP Congress stated: "Rigging before counting of votes in Ujjain. The seal of the postal ballot box has been found broken in the Kothi Palace Strong Room of Ujjain."
"The Congress candidate and his representatives also showed the broken ballot paper seals to the Collector and the officers present and lodged an objection," the party further stated.
The Congress further questioned the poll body, asking: "How long will the Election Commission remain silent?"
उज्जैन में मतगणना के पहले धांधली
— MP Congress (@INCMP) December 2, 2023
उज्जैन के कोठी पैलेस स्ट्रांग रूम में डाक मतपत्र पेटी की सील टूटी पाई गई है। कांग्रेस प्रत्याशी एवं उनके प्रतिनिधियों ने कलेक्टर एवं मौजूद अधिकारियों को भी मतपत्र की टूटी हुई सीलें दिखाई और आपत्ति दर्ज कराई।
चुनाव आयोग कब तक मौन रहेगा ?… pic.twitter.com/WPGhMkYs4n
A sub-divisional magistrate from the Balaghat district was suspended earlier this month amid a scandal over some officials reportedly unlocking the strong room and separating postal votes ahead of the daily schedule on Monday, PTI reported. The district administration had previously said that the strong room at the tehsil office, where postal votes are kept, would be available every day at 3 pm to store postal ballots.
The opposition Congress had sent a statement to the state Chief Electoral Officer stating that postal votes were removed from the strong room on November 27 and demanding action against the Balaghat collector. The occurrence, however, was labelled a "procedural lapse" by the district administration.
निर्वाचन को कलंकित करते बालाघाट कलेक्टर
— MP Congress (@INCMP) November 27, 2023
मध्यप्रदेश के बालाघाट जिले के कलेक्टर डॉ. गिरीश मिश्रा ने आज 27 नवंबर को ही स्ट्रांग रूम खुलवाकर बिना अभ्यर्थियों को सूचना दिए डाक मतपत्रों की पेटियां खोल दी है।
अंतिम साँसें गिनती शिवराज सरकार और सरकार की अंधभक्ति में लीन कलेक्टर… pic.twitter.com/I1UrKmHK5B
District collector cum returning officer Girish Mishra issued the order suspending sub-divisional magistrate Gopal Kumar Soni, the returning officer for the Balaghat assembly constituency, earlier this week. According to the decision, Soni was suspended after directions from the Jabalpur divisional commissioner. Previously, Himmat Singh Bhavedi, assistant returning officer (ARO) and tehsildar, had been suspended in connection with the postal ballots scandal.
Madhya Pradesh conducted a single-phase election for 230 assembly seats on November 17. On December 3, votes will be tallied.
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