Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Criticizes Election Scheduling Favoring BJP
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New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) - Leaders of the opposition, such as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, expressed their apprehensions regarding the scheduling and execution of Assembly elections.
Priyanka Gandhi commented, "The method of scheduling elections, segmenting phases, and determining dates seems tailored for the benefit of the BJP."
In a similar vein, Akhilesh Yadav claimed that administrative adjustments frequently occur before elections in states where the ruling party in the center does not hold power.
“Whenever elections occur, if the state or Delhi government isn't theirs, their initial action is to dismiss the DGP, the Chief Secretary, and other officials. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which opposes the government, has systematically collaborated with the local government in Delhi and the Election Commission to remove officials. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, has the DGP ever been dismissed? Why is that never the case there? How many complaints were filed with the Election Commission during Uttar Pradesh elections? Did they ever dismiss anyone?” he asked.
The Election Commission unveiled the schedule for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday.
Polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will occur in a single phase on April 9, Tamil Nadu will have a single-day poll on April 23, while West Bengal will conduct elections across two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Shortly after announcing the assembly elections, the Election Commission ordered the removal of West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena. Following this, the state's acting DGP Piyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar were also reassigned.