BJP, Cong men allege foul play

Alleging replacements of several ballot boxes, activists of Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress staged a dharna outside Paharia Mandi (where ballot boxes of civic body election have been kept for counting) here in Varanasi on Thursday. The BJP and Congress workers alleged that the State Government was misusing the administrative machinery for its political interest. It was alleged that a number of ballot boxes of several wards were replaced to ensure a smooth sailing of SP candidates in the civic body election.

Activists say ballot boxes replaced

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Alleging replacements of several ballot boxes, activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress staged a dharna outside Paharia Mandi (where ballot boxes of civic body election have been kept for counting) here in Varanasi on Thursday.

The BJP and Congress workers alleged that the State Government was misusing the administrative machinery for its political interest. It was alleged that a number of ballot boxes of several wards were replaced to ensure a smooth sailing of SP candidates in the civic body election.

The agitated BJP and Congress workers stopped the vehicle of ADM (Administration) at Paharia Mandi to protest the alleged replacement of ballot boxes. "A large number of ballot boxes have been replaced to ensure that SP candidates wins the election", alleged a BJP worker Ram Sunder Mishra. Despite repeated efforts, no administrative officer was available for comment.

It may be noted that the second phase of civic body election was held in Varanasi on October 31. Ballot boxes of the civic body election have been kept for counting in Paharia Mandi. The counting is scheduled to be held on November 6.