BJP wants Mainpuri LS seat declared extra sensitive, writes to EC

New Delhi: The BJP candidate from Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, from where Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting, has demanded that the Election Commission declare the constituency as extra-sensitive and remove some senior officials from there as they were “working like SP cadres”. [caption id=“attachment_1488885” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] SS Chauhan in his letter to Election Commission said, “I request you (EC) to declare Mainpuri constituency as extra-sensitive and conduct free and fair elections under the watch of security and paramilitary forces.” Chauhan alleged that the SP government in UP run by Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav had posted “favourite” officials in the constituency much before the Model Code of Conduct came into force. He also alleged that these officials were working like “SP cadres in favour of the party”. Chauhan demanded that poll body should order removal of Superintendent of Police and two deputy collectors of Mainpuri, and deputy collector and circle officer (Police) of Bhogaon area besides BDO of Kisani block. He feared bloodshed and violence during April 24 polling and apprehended threat to his and his party worker’s life. The BJP leader claimed that the SP has assembled thousands of hooligans from across the state so that they can capture booths on polling day. He alleged that in 2004, after large-scale “booth capturing and hooliganism”, a four-member inquiry commission was set up which found that 70 per cent of the polling staff, district election officer and superintendent of police and others guilty. Chauhan said that following the incidents of booth capturing and hooliganism in 2004, BJP had complained to the EC then also. EC had taken cognisance and had ordered re-election in the constituency but similar incidents took place yet again. It was then that the EC formed a four-member commission to inquire into the matter. He said that in 2004, in Jaswant Nagar area, SP candidate had secured 88 per cent votes while Mulayam Singh Yadav contesting from Karhal area had secured 78 per cent votes and therefore, the polling in these two areas should be conducted under tight security and under the supervision of cameras as there is fear of booth capturing. PTI