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Lok Sabha elections 2019| AAP calling, influencing voters: Cong, BJP
In its complaint, the Congress alleged that a “fake” telephonic survey is being conducted.
The Congress and the BJP Saturday filed two separate complaints with the election commission regarding call centres trying to influence voters before Delhi goes to poll on Sunday. The Delhi Police crime branch has registered two FIRs in the matter.
In its complaint, the Congress alleged that a “fake” telephonic survey is being conducted. The complaint filed by Romila Dhawan, election agent of North East Delhi candidate Sheila Dikshit, alleged that phone calls from Friday evening played an automated message giving out “voter percentages”.
“From 5pm Friday, the 48-hour campaign prohibition came into effect and just 10 minutes after that, residents started getting such calls,” Congress former MP Sandeep Dikshit said.
As per the complaint, the call begins by asking voters to choose the party they think will win the elections in Delhi. After the “poll”, the voice gives out the result, giving 47% to the AAP, 37% to BJP and 11% to Congress.
Although the complaint has not accused any party, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera blamed the AAP.
In its complaint, the BJP has alleged that people are getting calls asking them to vote for a particular party. “These calls ask people to vote for the AAP. They are spreading misinformation about our candidates,” Union minister Vijay Goel said. New Delhi candidate Meenakshi Lekhi gave a mobile phone number from which calls were being made.
The AAP denied the allegations. “Only Congress people have received these calls. The people of Delhi will show them who is winning on May 23,” AAP’s Delhi convener Gopal Rai said.
“We have received two separate complaints from the Congress and the BJP. The Congress complaint did not name any party. So we have asked for more details. The BJP has named the AAP. We have served a notice to that party seeking its response. The police have been told to act in both cases,” a senior official from the CEO’s office said.
