Opposition parties claim BJP rigged municipal polls

Many major political parties, like the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and MNS were not able to open their accounts in this election and this made the opposition parties suspicious that BJP had rigged the elections.

The opposition parties have alleged that BJP, who bagged maximum seats in Vidarbha, rigged the recent municipal council elections.

Of the 26 candidates, 22 BJP candidates emerged winners in Wani municipality – a first in the history of the city. (HT file photo)

According to sources, supporters of Raju Zhode, the opposition candidate for the post of president of Ballarpur municipality, stormed the municipal council office and created ruckus on the issue, on Monday. They damaged several private and government run-buses and pelted stones on vehicles to protest against the alleged rigging.

The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse Zhode’s supporters who shouted anti-BJP slogans and accused state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar of “rigging” the elections. They also demanded re-poll with a neutral returning officer. Harish Sharma of BJP had won the election by defeating Zhode, a common candidate of opposition parties.

Ballarpur falls under the assembly constituency of Mungantiwar.

A tense atmosphere prevailed in Ballarpur city after the lathi charge. “The situation is now under control. There has been no untoward incident since Tuesday morning in the area,” said Sandip Diwan, superintendent of police (SP), Chandrapur district. Three persons had been arrested for their involvement in violent activities on Monday.

Also in the neighbouring Wani municipality in Yavatmal district, opposition parties accused the BJP of using “unfair” means to win the elections. All opposition leaders of the city, including those of the state BJP ally Shiv Sena gheraoed the election officer of Wani municipality Shivanand Mishra on Tuesday and demanded an immediate re-poll. They alleged that the electronic voting machines were deliberately tampered with to give a safe passage to BJP candidates in the elections.

Of the 26 candidates, 22 BJP candidates emerged winners in Wani municipality – a first in the history of the city. Besides, the BJP nominee for the chairman of the municipality, Tarendra Borde, also won the elections by a handsome margin.

Many major political parties, like the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and MNS were not able to open their accounts in this election and this made the opposition parties suspicious that BJP had rigged the elections.

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