Rein in bahubalis, Oppn tells CEC

The complaints forwarded to the CEC by the Opposition parties were more or less the same. But what Congress Legislative Party leader Promod Tiwari and state chief Salman Khursheed were concerned most about was the presence of bahubalis in the ruling party. Fearing the bahubalis from areas of the first phase influencing the electorate in the areas of other phases, the Congress complained to the CEC that the SP was withdrawing cases against these criminals. The issue of arms licence distribution was also raised by all parties. “In the last three months over 20,000 arms licences have been distributed in each district,” said Khursheed.

BSP general secretary SC Mishra said, “Even the police do not have as many weapons as the ruling party people have.” State president Keshri Nath Tripathi demanded a review of arms licence distributed in last six months.

Meanwhile, the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told bureaucrats and police officials on Wednesday that free and fair elections — devoid of any untoward happening — would be their responsibility. The CEC has also clarified that any laxity or irregularity in the matter would not be tolerated as the Commission will play the role of a ‘watch dog’ and keep strict vigil on every incident that takes place in the state during the elections.