Priyanka seeks more 145;attention146;, EC nods

Hours after Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra complained to the Election Commission of criminal intimidation of Congress campaigners and voters in Rae Bareli, the panel decided to depute an additional special observer for the constituency, going to polls on April 26. Among Sonia Gandhi8217;s opponents in the constituency is the Samajwadi Party8217;s Ashok Singh. It is against his brother and 8216;8216;chief election manager8217;8217; Akhilesh Singh that the party made the complaint. Akhilesh is also the MLA from Rae Bareli Sadar. The Congress described Akhilesh as a 8216;8216;history-sheeter8217;8217; and a 8216;8216;habitual booth-capturer8217;8217;.

He is accused of criminally hindering the Congress campaign in Rae Bareli, which Priyanka is overseeing. 8216;8216;I have given the EC a list of sensitive and hypersensitive booths in Rae Bareli. There is some irregularity happening in my mother8217;s constituency and criminal elements are moving in. We are apprehensive of them indulging in booth capturing,8217;8217; Priyanka said, after filing her complaint at Nirvachan Sadan.

Acting on the list of 60 8216;8216;sensitive8217;8217; polling stations given by Priyanka, the EC ordered videography in these to check booth-capturing and record the polling. The Congress memorandum submitted to CEC T.S. Krishnamurthy and EC N. Gopalaswami alleged that the publicity material of the Congress party was forcibly removed from certain areas. 8216;8216;He Akhilesh and his henchmen are threatening supporters of the Congress and the people in the constituency,8217;8217; Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said.