Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch, a civil rights group in the state, has raised the issue with the Election Commission corroborating its claim with photos and videos in a post on X platform
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Voter slips carrying photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lotus, the election symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were allegedly distributed in Jharkhand’s Chatra, Hazaribagh and Koderma constituencies on Monday.
The allegations, levelled by Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM), a civil rights group in the state, emerged as voters cast their ballots in the fifth round of the seven-phase ongoing general elections.
The group raised the issue with the Election Commission corroborating its claim with photos and videos in a post on X platform. It also alleged that BJP slogans were also found on the voter slips.
The evidence provided by the group clearly shows voter slips carrying the photos of Modi and Lotus and the text “Abki Baar, 400 Paar” (This time, let’s cross 400 seats), “Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar” (Modi Govt once again), “Kamal ke Saamnewala Button Dabakar, Bhari Maton se Vijay Banaye” (Press the Lotus button for our victory).
According to JJM, this happened in Sadhwdih, Bochidag and Monadih villages of Latehar district in the Chatra constituency.
“In booth number 107 of Chatra Lok Sabha, Gram Sadhwadih, Panchayat Namudag, Block Manika District Latehar, voters are being sent to the polling booth by giving them slips with BJP’s election symbol and Modi’s photo. Has BJP got a free hand to violate the code of conduct? Take immediate action,” posted the group while tagging the chief election officer of the state.
In another post, the group said that the workers of the BJP who are distributing these slips at the gate of a polling booth in Bochidag. It shared a video showing some men handing these voter slips with the photos of Modi and Lotus.
“Despite repeated warnings, the commission is openly allowing violations to happen. Please show some responsibility,” posted the JJM.
In another post, the JJM said “BJP workers are sitting outside the gate of Maunadih booth of Mahuadanr block of Latehar district of Chatra Lok Sabha constituency and distributing slips with election symbol and Modi’s photo. Take immediate cognisance and run a special campaign at every booth of the entire Lok Sabha constituency to stop this”.
In the previous phase too, the group had brought to light this development to the notice of the election commission. On 14 May, it filed a complaint with K. Ravi Kumar, chief election officer of the state, calling it a violation of the model code of conduct.
The complaint said: “We got information from different villages of four constituencies that the voters were distributed slips having the photos of Lotus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their election slogans even one day before the polling. The examples are mentioned here. Even on the day of polling, party workers and agents were distributing these slips right in front of the booth within one hundred meters”.
This has happened in Sinhbhoom, Khunti, Lohardaga and Palamu constituencies.
JMM said that this is being done to mislead the voters, and attempt to influence the election in favour of the BJP. In the complaint, the group also asked the election commission to ensure action against these violations of the MCC and not allow them to repeat it anywhere else in the upcoming phase of polling.
