EC orders probe into AAP claims against BJP’s Parvesh Verma, voter deletion in New Delhi seat
After the meeting, Kejriwal told mediapersons, "Our main concerns were irregularities in voter deletions, suspicious additions to the voter list, violation of model code of conduct by BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, and collusion by local election officials."
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CM Atishi with AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in New Delhi on Thursday. (Amit Mehra)The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday asked its Delhi chief electoral officer (CEO) to probe AAP’s complaints against BJP leader Parvesh Verma and allegations of additions and deletions in the electoral roll of the New Delhi Assembly seat. This was after a delegation of AAP, led by Chief Minister Atishi and party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, met with the commissioners.
The CEO was asked to “ascertain actual facts and take immediate appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of model code of conduct, electoral laws and the extant guidelines of the Election Commission of India”. The EC also asked the CEO to submit an action-taken report.
Kejriwal and Verma are contesting from the New Delhi seat in the February 5 poll.
After the meeting, Kejriwal told mediapersons, “Our main concerns were irregularities in voter deletions, suspicious additions to the voter list, violation of model code of conduct by BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, and collusion by local election officials.”
He alleged that in the New Delhi constituency, of a total of one lakh voters, over 5,500 have been removed from the electoral rolls in the last three weeks. “…applications for deletions (submitted) are fraudulent. During a hearing by lower-level election officials, people whose names have been deleted have denied having submitted such applications.”
He also alleged that around 13,000 new voters have been added to the constituency. “Where did these 13,000 people come from in just 15 days? This is a clear indication that fake voters are being registered, likely brought in from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar…,” said Kejriwal.
Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of harboring “hatred” towards Purvanchalis — referring to the people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — living in the city.
“Over time, Kejriwal has insulted the people of Purvanchal, terming them a burden on healthcare and education, and now he has gone too far by calling them fake voters,” said Sachdeva.
Tiwari said, “…I ask, how dare you call Purvanchalis fake… Purvanchalis come to Delhi to work hard and never compromise on their self-respect… he (Kejriwal) facilitates illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants to become voters, and now, as they are being removed, he is panicking.”
Tiwari added that Purvanchali voters constitute 42% of the total voting population of Delhi.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh hit back. “The BJP, which calls our brothers from UP, Bihar and Purvanchal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, has forgotten that Arvind Kejriwalji gave the maximum number of tickets to our brothers from Purvanchal (in elections). He made a Purvanchali an MP, a minister, built hundreds of chhath ghats for them, and did work worth thousands of crores in slums.”
Kejriwal, meanwhile, accused Parvesh Verma of violatingthe model code of conduct and distributing money to voters. The party demanded that investigating agencies should raid Verma’s house to “uncover how much money he is distributing” among voters. “He is openly uploading posts and boasting about his actions, much like how characters in movies openly challenge authorities… the local elections officials have surrendered to BJP and are facilitating their illegal activities…,” he said.
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