Doubts cast on fairness of polls

?Jiski pradesh mein sarkar usiki police, usika prashashan, usike goonde, usike neta, usike duplicate ballot papers, usika bal aur usi ka kanoon,? says Anand Mohan, an independent mayoral candidate.

“Jiski pradesh mein sarkar usiki police, usika prashashan, usike goonde, usike neta, usike duplicate ballot papers, usika bal aur usi ka kanoon,” says Anand Mohan, an independent mayoral candidate.

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And there are several others who hold similar views but for several reasons do not wish to be quoted. These views have come not from just the mayoral candidate but also from those who are contesting for the post of corporator, says Rakesh Gupta who is in the fray.

When DM Amrit Abhijat and SSP Vijay Singh Meena were briefing cops in the Police Lines on Sunday evening and giving them sermons to be fair and impartial during the election to be held on October 31, five police stations in old city--Kotwali, Khuldabad, Kareli, Shahganj, and Dhumanganj were in the grip of goons.
Sources said, divided in groups of 40-50 and riding mobikes the goons were terrorising voters not to come out on the day of polling. They allegedly went into several localities under the above police stations and did their best to instil fear in the mind of voters. People were manhandled, slapped and even allegedly threatened with weapons, said a resident of Gauspur on condition of anonymity.

Without naming the person another voter from Khuldabad said, ''Samajwadi Party ke ek MP hain unhone theka le liya hai apne candidates ko jitane ka''. He is powerful from all angles and his writ runs large. Even the administration and the officials cannot go against his wishes, he added.

And the election code of conduct for this MP has no meaning. He was seen moving in a convoy of Landcruisers late Sunday night on Stanley Road with hooters on with cops following him in another vehicle.

More than a dozen goons attacked the residence of Mohammad Ali, UDF leader, late Sunday night with pieces of bricks. They beat up his servant, damaged flowerpots and hurled choicest of abuses. There were also several incidents in Shahganj, Atala, Kareli and Khuldabad.

Similarly BJP candidate from ward 31 was attacked and an attempt was made to abduct him. There were reports of bomb being hurled at the office of another BJP candidate in Muirabad.

It may be mentioned that senior Congress leaders had earlier met the DM and had handed over a memorandum alleging intimidation of voters. But such complaints do not appear to have had any impact.

The State Election Commission appears to have surrendered to the ruling party by leaving things at the discretion of DMs, said Anand Mohan.

The civic body polls are heading the same way like last year's by- polls in which BSP candidate Pooja Pal, wife of slain BSP MLA Raju Pal, lost to the Samajwadi Party candidate Ashraf. Bombs were held in this election and large-scale intimidation of voters was also carried out by men belonging to one political party.

All this has created apprehension in the mind of the common voter whether this election will be fair or foul, said sources.