MP Assembly Polls 2023: Congress Alleges Ballot Tampering, Denials Surface

In the midst of Madhya Pradesh's assembly polls, the Congress alleges malpractice regarding postal ballots by the Balaghat collector. However, electoral officials deny these claims, stating compliance with procedures. Despite tensions, Congress leaders expressed satisfaction following explanations from authorities.

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In the latest development related to the Madhya Pradesh assembly election, the Congress has raised concerns over alleged malpractice regarding postal ballots attributed to Balaghat collectors. Accusations were outlined in a recent memorandum, pinpointing the collector for purportedly removing postal ballots from the secure room and engaging in irregularities. These claims have been refuted by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan, who denied the allegations, emphasizing the adherence to procedures.

The assembly polls occurred on November 17 in Madhya Pradesh, with the vote counting scheduled for December 3. CEO Anupam Rajan clarified that service votes (postal ballots) underwent segregation by authorized agents of political parties, maintaining transparency in the process. Specific counts of service votes segregated per assembly were detailed, addressing concerns raised by Congress VP JP Dhanopia.

Dhanopia highlighted suspicions surrounding the sanctity of these postal ballots, urging the suspension of Balaghat Collector Girish Chandra Mishra and associated employees. In response, Mishra clarified that the strong room, housed in the local tehsil office, underwent the segregation process in the presence of authorized agents.

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The controversy escalated with the circulation of a video depicting the process, causing further confusion. Legal actions under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code were threatened against those disobeying orders. Notably, a nodal officer was suspended for negligence, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

However, following explanations from poll authorities, Congress leaders expressed satisfaction with the process. Detailed accounts of the ballot segregation process were submitted by party agents to election officials, attempting to quell the brewing controversy.