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In the run-up to the polls, questions were raised about the voter list, alleged bias of the Delhi Police, and the manner in which the poll process was allegedly vitiated
Even though complaints were aggressively raised by BJP and AAP, it seems Delhi elections have passed off smoothly without any ‘major’ incidents. (PTI)
Delhi was getting ready for polling day when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi fired a fresh salvo at the electoral process. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi questioned how the Maharashtra voter numbers had grown by leaps between Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.
The Congress, meanwhile, has created EAGLE (Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts) — an eight-membered team to keep a “bird’s eye view” of elections in the country and “monitor the conduct of free and fair elections by the Election Commission of India”.
The charge on the floor of the House and the EAGLE action was yet another reiteration by the opposition camp about electoral malpractices. But, as the Delhi election went off relatively smoothly, the Election Commission claims vindication.
Allegations, FIRs, Social Media Battle In Delhi
From BJP alleging that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi’s staff was distributing money in Kalkaji on February 4, around midnight, to Manish Sisodia getting into an altercation with Delhi Police alleging inaction against BJP supporters who were allegedly distributing money from a house — the charges flew thick and fast.
Close to 2,800 FIRS were registered in the run-up to the Delhi elections. As per EC data, Rs 220 crore worth of cash, liquor, freebies, and precious metal has been seized. More than 120 allegations were made on social media by political parties and their workers. Most of these dealt with cash distribution and fake voting on polling day. But in the run-up to the polls, questions were raised about the voter list, alleged bias of the Delhi Police, and the manner in which the poll process was allegedly vitiated.
The Election Commission, which usually does not go public, chose to put out on social media its stance in the face of attacks. “The three-member commission collectively noted repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign ECI in Delhi Elections, as if it is a single member body & decided to have constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically & not to be swayed by such insinuations,” ECI’s official handle said.
It further clarified that action on issues raised by political parties and candidates are taken in each instance by over 1.5 lakh officials “within established legal framework, robust processes & SoPs ensuring fair play& non partisan conduct”.
Mixed Bag For ECI
It came as a shot in the arm for the beleaguered institution when former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, after casting his vote in Delhi, dismissed all doubts about EVMS.
“Well, this is not a day to discuss this. The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the validity of EVMs. The Supreme Court is the last voice in the constitutional space on adjudication and it has affirmed the validity of EVMs. And I think we must accept it,” the former CJI said.
The opposition INDIA bloc has repeatedly questioned the authenticity of EVMs.
On Thursday, a day after the Milkilpur bypolls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said it is time to send a ‘Kafan’ [shroud] to the ECI.
“Chunav Aayog mar chuka hai. Unn per safed kapda daal dena chahiye [The EC is dead. One must cover it in white cloth]. Samajwadi Party and I have given at least 500 complaints to EC. But they didn’t act on a single one,” Yadav said, alleging fake voting and administrative lapses in the by-elections. The Opposition has taken repeated digs at BJP for losing the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat. Milkipur assembly is one of the five assembly seats in Faizabad.
Will Delhi Polls Silence Critics?
Even though complaints were aggressively raised by BJP and AAP, it seems Delhi elections have passed off smoothly without any ‘major’ incidents.
A total of 60.44 per cent voters turned out in Delhi to cast their vote as per EC’s provisional data till 11.30pm on February 5. As CNN-News18 went around the city, no major complaint was raised by the voters of faulty machines, tampered voter list or general difficulty in casting vote.
At Jangpura assembly segment Nizamuddin booth, a young woman arrived at 6.01pm to cast her vote. The policemen and electoral officers on duty politely explained that the deadline was over. The voter argued that she was misled to the wrong school and hence got delayed. Poll officials stepped out to try and see if a solution could be offered but the woman had to be turned back because of rules.
In New Delhi constituency’s Lady Irwin School booth, another woman voter had to be sent back because she forgot to carry an I-card. Similar reports came in from Shakur Basti where some voters could not find their names on the list.
However, overall voters seemed satisfied with the polling arrangements from Okhla to Greater Kailash, New Delhi to North East Delhi.
Delhi Police Special CP Devesh Srivastav said no complaint of any big fight or obstruction of electoral process was received. “Whatever allegations are coming are being acted upon,” he said.
The jury is out on exit poll numbers, with most pollsters giving BJP an edge. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has rejected the projections and adopted a wait-and-watch approach. If the exit polls prove correct, will allegations of malpractices come back to haunt EC again or will it claim vindication like it did after Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir polls?
