E-Paper
To polls with fear factors
AS LAST counts began for Tuesday polling, candidates resorted to last-minute pressure tactics to get votes. Some tried to woo people with n-number of promises, but quite a few of them are sending threatening messages through local hooligans to the head of the families. Sources revealed majority of the complaints were coming from those areas where sitting corporators were in the fray. For instance, a ruling party candidate in a ward of Qaiserbagh area identified about half-a-dozen houses having maximum voters.
Vote us, or face the music!
AS LAST counts began for Tuesday polling, candidates resorted to last-minute pressure tactics to get votes. Some tried to woo people with n-number of promises, but quite a few of them are sending threatening messages through local hooligans to the head of the families.
Sources revealed majority of the complaints were coming from those areas where sitting corporators were in the fray. For instance, a ruling party candidate in a ward of Qaiserbagh area identified about half-a-dozen houses having maximum voters.
Sources revealed this candidate, who is known for his proximity with jailed mafia don-turned MLA Mukhtar Ansari, had contacted head of these big families. Since majority of these famlies were loyal to the rival candidate, the ruling party candidate threatened the family heads to switch their loyalty towards him. The candidate has also warned them that he would personally watch if they (the families) were casting their vote in his favour or not.
Similarly, another candidate in LDA Colony, Krishnanagar area, who is constantly winning the seat for past two terms under banner of a opposition party, too has come out openly threatening local residents for votes. The people in the area had shown their resentment a few days back only and candidate feared residents would not show faith in him this time.
His cohorts were on the job issuing threats to those families who had raised voice against the sitting corporator. Other areas where candidates of ruling and opposition parties are engaged in threatening voters are Om Nagar (Alambagh), Moti Nagar (Naka), Aliganj, Vikas Nagar, Rajajipuram, Maulviganj, Gomti Nagar, Cantonment, Chaupatian (Chowk), Saadatganj, Thakurganj, Daliganj and Bashiratganj. The police officials in concerned areas said they would initiate action against those candidates involved in threatening voters. But, they said no complaints have yet been received in this connection.
