Chandauli Dalits claim finger inked, told to remain indoors

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, May 19

Amid reports of Dalit voters allegedly being prevented from exercising their franchise and sporadic incidents of violence in Chandauli, the final phase of polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh concluded with a turnout of 56.84 per cent, slightly higher than the 2014 average of 54.96 per cent.

As many as 150 of 438 ballot units, 150 of 438 control units and 334 of the 438 VVPATs developed snags and had to be replaced, including in PM Modi’s constituency of Varanasi. Maharajganj recording the highest polling percentage at 62.40. In 2014, it saw a turnout of 60.84 per cent, the highest then.

The Ballia seat recorded the lowest turnout at 52.50 per cent as against 48.27 per cent in 2014. The polling percentage marginally fell in PM Narendra  Modi’s constituency of Varanasi — from 58.25 per cent in 2014 to 58.05 per cent now. The high-profile constituency of Gorakhpur saw an increase in polling from 54.65 per cent in 2014 to 57.38 per cent this election. Two poll officials in Gorakhpur died while on duty.

Six Dalits of Tarajeevanpur village in Chandauli district claimed that local BJP workers paid them Rs 500 each, applied ink on their index finger and told them not to venture out for polling. They approached the Alinagar police station in the Sakaldiha block, pointing a finger at BJP workers, one of them a former pradhan. 

Speaking to mediapersons in Chandauli, District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said a case had been lodged. He said that the SDM and ADM had rushed to the village and spoken to residents. “It was found to be ordinary pen ink, not the kind used for polling. All complainants have cast their ballot”. The money allegedly paid to the complainants has been seized by the administration as “case property.”

Tension prevailed in the district and a heavy police force was rushed following clashes between BJP and SP supporters. Mughal Sarai BJP MLA Sadhna Singh led a group of supporters armed with lathis who clashed with the SP supporters. There were also reports of a clash between SP and BJP workers in Parashurampur village of Chakiya block of Chandauli. Taking cognizance of the violence, the Election Commission has sought a report from the Chandauli Returning Officer. BJP state president Mahendranath Pandey is the party candidate from this constituency.

Ranchi: An estimated 70.54 per cent of the over 45.64 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in three Lok Sabha constituencies in the fourth and final phase of polling in Jharkhand on Sunday. 

Of the three constituencies, Rajmahal recorded the highest turnout at 71.69 per cent, followed by Dumka at 71.10 per cent and Godda at 69.11 per cent, an Election Commission official said, updating the figure at the end of polling.

Polling was peaceful with no untoward incidents reported from the three Lok Sabha seats. Former Chief Minister Shibu Soren was in the fray from Dumka seat.  Soren, the chief of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and a 8th term sitting MP was pitted against BJP's Sunil Soren.