A day after Narendra Modi challenged the Election Commission (EC) to book him, the BJP upped the ante, drawing the poll panel's attention to what they alleged was “silent booth capturing” in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The BJP’s complaint to the EC comes on the last day of campaigning for Wednesday’s polling in states including that of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
At an election rally in the Burdwan district of West Bengal, Modi had questioned the poll panel's alleged inaction to ensure impartial polls.
A BJP delegation led by Arun Jaitley petitioned the EC to curb rigging in UP and Bengal. After the meeting, Jaitley told reporters: “Central forces are being used for non-election purposes, and local police and home guards are managing poll booths.
The agents of opposition parties are threatened and turned away from booths. It is especially seen in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.”
The senior BJP leader said he has appealed to the commission to ensure voting is fair in the next two phases.
The BJP is worried over that electoral malpractices have returned a gap of 10-15 years, threatening to undo one of the achievements of the EC.
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