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Opposition Alleges Poll Misuse in Gandhinagar Civic Elections
Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party say their candidates faced unfair treatment before a local election in Gandhinagar.
Congress says police pressured some candidates and their families to withdraw their forms.
AAP says one candidate’s form was rejected even though the party says he submitted all required papers.
The BJP denies these claims.
It says Congress is making baseless accusations against constitutional institutions.
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation election is scheduled for October 11.
September 26 was the final day to file nominations.
The parties disagree about whether the election process is being misused or fairly administered.
Congress accused Gujarat’s BJP government of using police and government machinery to pressure candidates and relatives to withdraw nominations.
The Congress said police personnel pressured its candidates in civic wards 6 and 7 before the September 26 nomination deadline.
AAP alleged that its ward 5 candidate, Jitendra Chauhan, had his nomination rejected despite submitting the required documents.
The BJP rejected the allegations as baseless and accused Congress of attacking constitutional institutions when it expects electoral defeat.
Elections to the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation are scheduled for October 11, while the Gujarat Assembly elections are due next year.
- Who
- The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party made the allegations; the BJP denied them.
- What
- Opposition parties alleged police pressure and politically motivated rejection or withdrawal of nominations for the Gandhinagar civic polls.
- Where
- The dispute concerns elections to the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation in Gujarat, with Congress citing wards 6 and 7 and AAP citing ward 5.
- When
- The allegations were reported on September 28; nominations closed on September 26 and voting is scheduled for October 11.
- Why
- Congress and AAP said the alleged actions were intended to stop Opposition candidates from contesting; the BJP said the claims were baseless attacks made when Congress expected defeat.
Congress and AAP allegations
BJP response
Police pressure on candidates
Congress and AAP allegations
Congress said Local Crime Branch and local police personnel pressured its candidates and family members to withdraw nomination papers.
BJP response
The BJP rejected claims of forced withdrawals as baseless allegations made by Congress when it senses defeat.
Rejection of AAP nomination
Congress and AAP allegations
AAP said Jitendra Chauhan submitted the necessary documents and received a filing receipt, but his nomination was later rejected without notice because a mandate was allegedly missing.
BJP response
The BJP defended the election process and constitutional institutions but did not provide a specific response to Chauhan’s rejection in the report.
Election Commission credibility
Congress and AAP allegations
Congress and AAP alleged misuse of the Election Commission and other government agencies to hinder Opposition candidates.
BJP response
The BJP said constitutional institutions should be trusted and accused Congress of repeatedly attempting to defame them.
Key facts
- Election
- Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation election
- Polling date
- October 11
- Nomination deadline
- September 26
- Congress allegation
- Police and Local Crime Branch personnel pressured candidates and relatives in wards 6 and 7.
- AAP allegation
- Jitendra Chauhan’s ward 5 nomination was rejected over an allegedly missing mandate.
- BJP response
- The allegations were called baseless and part of Congress’s strategy to attack constitutional institutions.
- Earlier Gujarat civic results
- The BJP won 15 municipal corporations except Gandhinagar and Junagadh in elections held in April.
Quotes
Congress delegation
Congress representatives who submitted a memorandum to the Gujarat State Election Commission
“Congress has decided to attack Constitutional institutions and defame them domestically and internationally. One should have faith in Constitutional institutions. Elections were recently held in several states; they were conducted democratically, and the results were declared impartially.”
theprint.in
“Chauhan filed his nomination with all necessary documents, and we left with the receipt confirming that the form had been filed with the complete documentation. Yet today, his form was rejected without any notice on the ground that the mandate was missing.”
theprint.in
Sources
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