Ahead of the 11 March counting of ballots for the seven-phased elections in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces at all the counting centres in the state.
The demand was made by the BJP senior leader and central minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi came even as the political parties gear up for the last phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur scheduled for 8 March.
Naqvi in a tweet sought deployment of central paramilitary forces inside all the counting centres in UP. This comes close on the heels of a recent BJP memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners in which the party alleged deletion of names of valid voters from the voters list in the state and demanded those left out be allowed to cast their ballots.
The party on Monday also drew the Election Commission’s attention to the alleged incidents of ‘booth capturing’ in Manipur during the first phase of polling in the state. Naqvi demanded re-polling in all the booths which reported incidents of booth capturing.
“BJP complained to EC regarding booth capturing at several booths in 1st phase of Manipur Assembly polls & demanded re-poll on these booths,” Naqvi tweeted.
In preparation for the smooth counting of votes in the five states of Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur the Election Commission has issued directions to the respective CEOs for making adequate security arrangements at all the 157 counting stations on March 11.
The Commission has also directed Chief Electoral Officers to make all counting arrangements by the night of 7 March. Videos will capture the movements of EVMs and their secure upkeep.
There will be 75 counting centres in Uttar Pradesh, 53 in Punjab, 15 in Uttarakhand, 12 in Manipur and 2 in Goa.