ITANAGAR, Apr 29: The Janata Dal (United)’s election agent for the Palin assembly constituency in Kra Daadi district, on behalf of the party’s candidate, submitted a petition to the district election officer (DEO), seeking re-poll at the Sangram polling station, alleging that the INC indulged in electoral malpractices during the re-poll on 27 April.
In its petition, the JD (U) alleged that the number of votes cast during the day of re-polling exceeded the total number of the voters listed on the electoral roll.
It claimed that, while 354 voters were listed on the electoral copy/roll, a total of 357 votes, including 17 postal ballots, were cast.
“As per reliable sources, 340 votes were cast during the day of re-poll in Sangram, besides the 17 votes which were already cast through postal ballot,” it said.
It further alleged that the election agents of the BJP and the JD (U) were not allowed to visit the Sangram polling station during the day of re-poll.
The JD (U)’s election agent refuted the allegation of the INC candidate that the JD (U) indulged in violence, voter intimidation and booth capturing at the Rakso polling station during the day of re-poll.
“The re-polling in Rakso was conducted peacefully, without any untoward incident. A few voters who had already voted through postal ballot were trying to disturb the polling process but failed to do so,” the JD (U) election agent said.
Dismissing the allegation of booth capturing, he said the re-poll was held in the presence of the polling agents of the BJP, the NPP and the JD (U).
The JD (U)’s election agent appealed to the DEO to not entertain the complaint lodged by the INC candidate, seeking re-poll at the Rakso polling station.
