The election for the post of Zila Panchayat chairperson has become a battle of wits for two prominent political parties. There are only two women candidates in the fray. While Kesari Devi is contesting on the BSP ticket the ruling SP has fielded Rekha Singh.
With BSP and SP locking horns in the run-up to this prestigious chair and the administration's alleged bias towards the ruling Samajwadi Party, it is to be seen which side manages to steal the show when the counting takes place following the polls on January 7.
As of now there is no end to allegations and counter allegations from both the sides ie SP and the BSP. On one hand SP is accusing the BSP of abducting several Zila Panchayat members and coaxing them to vote for them while on the other hand BSP is accusing the administration of helping the Samajwadi Party win this prestigious election by hook or by crook.
The situation has become so tense between these two warring parties that BSP's Kesari Devi, the sitting chairperson who is again contesting for this post and is pitted against SP candidate Rekha Singh, has sent a written complaint of her harassment along with three members to the State Election Commission.
In her complaint she has alleged that since most of the members were with her party,the ruling party fearing defeat has started taking the help of the administration and the police in creating an atmosphere of terror and chaos to tilt the election in its favour. An FIR against her husband was lodged at the Ghurpur police station in a bid to stop her from contesting the election. Another FIR at the same police station has been lodged against a ZP member Dinesh Patel, she alleged. Manoj Pandey , member from Kaudihar block was being victimised by the police along with Urmila Patel member from Holagarh. Cops have threatened to implicate these persons in false cases, she has further alleged.
{{/usCountry}}In her complaint she has alleged that since most of the members were with her party,the ruling party fearing defeat has started taking the help of the administration and the police in creating an atmosphere of terror and chaos to tilt the election in its favour. An FIR against her husband was lodged at the Ghurpur police station in a bid to stop her from contesting the election. Another FIR at the same police station has been lodged against a ZP member Dinesh Patel, she alleged. Manoj Pandey , member from Kaudihar block was being victimised by the police along with Urmila Patel member from Holagarh. Cops have threatened to implicate these persons in false cases, she has further alleged.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, one witnessed the rat and cat game being played at the Collectorate between the BSP and the Administration on Tuesday.
On one hand BSP was seen trying to whisk away its members whom the administration had called for issuing I cards while on the other hand the Administration tried its best to get members freed from the so-called clutches of the BSP and provide each of them two security guards.
In the end it was the Administration which had an upper hand in this game.
Despite assurance that all the members would be issued I-cards it could provide the same to hardly a dozen members even though the entire day was at their disposal.
It may be mentioned that the I-cards were being issued by the Administration following the directive of the Election Commission according to which each member was required to present himself at the Collectorate along with two photographs between January 1 and 5.
The presence of all the members has been made mandatory. However in sharp contrast to this directive many SP members were not physically present on the scene.
The personal appearance directive was being considered important from several angles--the most important being the fact that it would help the so-called captive members come out and tell the Administration their problem. On its part the Administration was seen deliberately adopting delaying tactics in issuing the I-cards to the members.
However, by the evening the ADM (F&R) claimed to have delivered I-cards to 45 members.
With the BSP claiming the support of 50 members out of the total strength of 75, it is to be seen whether BSP will be able to retain its flock together or the SP would succeed in severely denting the BSP bastion to wrest this important chair.