Congress demands probe into polling spike in last 1 hour

Congress candidate for the Gurgaon parliamentary seat, Captain (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav, Friday demanded probe into the sudden jump in polling percentage during the latter half on polling day, May 12, in Badshahpur and Pataudi.

Addressing a press conference in the city, Yadav attributed the spike of 20% in polling during the last one hour in these constituencies to alleged malpractice. “We are being told that there was one booth worker in almost 200 booths in Badshahpur. We demand a probe in the matter.”

Yadav said he has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India demanding a repoll in Chandaka, Firozepur Jhirka, Jhamuwas and the Sirmathla booth in Sohna, as bogus voting allegedly took place here.

“In a viral video, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader is seen sitting inside the polling station in Firozepur Jhirka constituency’s Chandaka. I had to personally intervene to send him outside as he was influencing the voters,” Yadav said.

He also alleged that the BJP had used government employees, particularly contractors of civic agencies, to work against the Congress.

Later, Yadav also held a meeting with Congress’ booth-level workers and thanked them for their hard work. “We have fought the election in a fair manner and there is no doubt that the people of Gurugram have supported me in this endeavour,” he said.

Gurugram deputy commissioner Amit Khatri, who is also the returning officer, said, “As far as the rise in poll figures is concerned, it always takes place, as the total polling figures are compiled late in the evening. There is no question of any malpractice.” He added that directions to register cases against individuals who tried to influence voters in Mewat had been issued on May 12 itself, based on actionable complaints.

The BJP, however, denied the allegations and said the opposition was staring at a major defeat and, therefore, these reactions were expected from them.

“The Congress is going to lose the election badly, and they are now going to accuse the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and allege bogus voting. The BJP is going to cross the 300-mark and such accusations are going to increase in the next few days,” BJP spokesperson Raman Malik said.