Ranchi: A BJP delegation, led by party president and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu, on Friday submitted a memorandum to state election commissioner Alka Tiwari demanding deployment of central police forces for civic body elections in Jharkhand due on Feb 23. The results will be out on Feb 27.“The election is being held through ballot papers instead of EVMs, in which there is a possibility of extensive misuse of state govt machinery. Even in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, most polling centres in urban areas of the state fell under sensitive and highly sensitive category where central forces were deployed. The possibility of booth capturing at the behest of govt in elections cannot be ruled out. Therefore, BJP requests deployment of central forces at sensitive and highly sensitive booths on polling day and also at counting centres,” the memorandum read.
Later talking to the media, Sahu alleged that the law and order in the state has collapsed and criminals are running amok.Reacting to it, Congress, part of the ruling alliance govt, termed BJP’s demand a testimony to its frustration after being rejected by the people in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.“BJP is slowly finding itself non-relevant in Jharkhand due to good works by the govt. This is why, every day, it comes up with some or the other charges. The election commission is competent enough to conduct free and fair civic body polls,” said party spokesperson Sonal Shanti.
