Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: On the fifth day of the Jharkhand Assembly Budget Session, Kodarma MLA Neera Yadav criticised the state government outside the House, alleging widespread irregularities and mismanagement during the recent urban local body elections. She claimed that several voters faced difficulties and that the overall conduct of the polls reflected serious administrative lapses.
Allegations of Violence and Mismanagement
Yadav said that reports of clashes and violence emerged from multiple locations during the elections. In several areas, voters were seen wandering in search of their designated polling booths due to confusion and poor arrangements. She alleged that the government had been attempting to delay municipal elections for the past five years and had no genuine intention of conducting them.
Conditions Imposed Before Polls
According to the MLA, elections were finally conducted only after pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the judiciary. She noted that the decision to hold polls on a non-party basis was welcomed by her party. Similarly, the shift from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to ballot papers did not face opposition from them.
Voter List Discrepancies a Major Concern
Yadav described discrepancies in the voter list as the most serious issue. She alleged that names were either shifted arbitrarily or missing entirely from the electoral rolls. As a result, many voters, including prominent citizens, were unable to cast their votes.
Citing examples, she said that Padma Shri awardee and senior journalist Balbir Dutt reportedly moved from one booth to another but could not vote because his name was missing from the list. Similarly, 82-year-old Anant Ram was also denied the opportunity to vote for the same reason. She asserted that numerous citizens were deprived of their voting rights due to missing names, distant booths, or administrative confusion, calling the situation deeply concerning for the democratic process.
