Even as investigations are on into the death of Bahadur Lal Sonekar,the Indian Justice Party candidate for Jaunpur,several other candidates have come forward with allegations that they too were under pressure to withdraw from the contestfrom the police,supporters of BSP candidate Dhananjay Singh,and even some strangers. Several candidates told The Indian Express that they withdrew following the threats,while others described how they fended off the pressure. However,some of the police officials,whom the candidates have named,said they were just carrying out instructions to ensure withdrawal of Independents and candidates of smaller parties so that the total did not exceed 16,the maximum number that an electronic voting machine can accommodate. Interestingly,exactly 16 candidates were left in the fray after papers of two candidates were rejected and six others withdrew from the contest. However,both District Magistrate Aparna U and SP VK Dohre denied that there were any instructions to force candidates to withdraw. It is just by chance that there are 16 candidates left in the fray. No policeman ever asked any candidate to withdraw, insisted Dohre. But the candidate who were forced to withdraw stand by their claims. Baburam Yadav of Saraigunja had filed his papers under the banner of the Akhil Bhartia Alpashyank Morcha. On April 6,during the scrutiny of papers,the District Magistrate called me in her chamber and told me that my party did not exist and,therefore,she would lodge a case. She then asked me to withdraw. I complied as I did not want to get involved in any case. I filed the withdrawal form and came home. She assured me that the nomination money of Rs 10,000 would be returned after the election, Yadav claimed on Thursday. But DM Aparna denied the allegation as baseless. I did not meet Yadav,nor did I ask him to withdraw the papers. I was busy with election observers that day. Sai Ram Ashre of Husainabad wanted to contest as an Independent candidate. Two cops came and informed me that CO city D N Chaudhery had called me. When I met him,he asked me to withdraw the papers and offered Rs 20,000 I had spent. Initially,I resisted,but later I took the money and withdrew the papers, said Ashre. Incidentally,Chaudhery is also named in Sonekars complaint. Brijraj of Udaibhanpur claimed he dropped out after Maharajganj station officer R K Dwivedi asked him to withdraw his papers or face the consequences. Neelam Devi of Salarpur withdrew after she was threatened by men of BSP candidate Dhananjay Singh . Mustaqueem of Rithi said he withdrew his papers willingly after Dhananjays men approa-ched him. Mohd Islam,the sixth candidate who withdrew his papers,couldnt be contacted. Asked about the allegations against policemen,SP Dohare said: I have not received any complaint against my officers. Let them come to me and I will look into the matter. BSP candidate Dhananjay Singh claimed he was never bothered by the number of candidates as they were never a threat to him. My name is unnecessarily being dragged into every matter. It is an attempt to tarnish my image and that of the Government.
