Are MCD Poll Results Manipulated in Ashok Vihar Ward?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Allegations of electoral fraud have emerged following the MCD elections.
- The AAP claims results were manipulated to favor the BJP.
- The AAP candidate initially appeared to win by a margin of 179 votes.
- The controversy has implications for Delhi's political future.
- Calls for an impartial investigation into the allegations have been made.
New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) The jubilation among BJP supporters following a decisive win in 7 out of 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday was overshadowed by serious allegations of electoral misconduct from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The AAP’s chief in Delhi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, accused that their candidate Seema Goyal was initially proclaimed the ‘winner’ on the Election Commission (EC) portal, only for the results to be later “altered” during the recounting, ultimately favoring the BJP candidate.
Bharadwaj presented a supposed screenshot from the EC portal as evidence for his claims, asserting that Goyal defeated her BJP opponent Veena Asija by a margin of 179 votes. The screenshot indicated that Goyal garnered 8,304 votes, while Asija received 8,125 votes.
The accusations of electoral fraud in the recent MCD elections are poised to ignite further controversy, as opposition parties have been alleging “match-fixing” between the electoral commission and the BJP to skew the results in favor of the latter.
The shocking revelations by AAP's Delhi chief were supported by other party leaders who accused the ruling BJP of engaging in electoral fraud and malpractice to seize the elections.
“This is BJP blatantly committing fraud in elections in broad daylight. When the Aam Aadmi Party triumphed by 179 votes, how was the result altered?” Anurag Dhanda, AAP’s media-in-charge, expressed on X.
It's worth noting that the elections for 12 wards of the MCD took place on November 30. Of these, the BJP held 9, while the AAP secured 3.
The by-elections were conducted in wards such as Greater Kailash, Shalimar Bagh B, Ashok Vihar, Chandni Chowk, Chandni Mahal, Dichaon Kalan, Naraina, Sangam Vihar A, Dakshin Puri, Mundka, Vinod Nagar, and Dwarka B. The elections were necessitated as these seats became vacant after their councilors were elected to the Assembly.
In these recent by-elections, the AAP maintained its number of wards while the BJP captured 7. The Congress also made its mark in the MCD bye-elections by winning 1 ward, along with the AIFB which also secured 1 seat.