Over 61 percent polling has been reported on Sunday in the Ater assembly byelection in Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh amidst heavy violence and firing at two places, election commission sources said.
Since the beginning of voting in the morning, the Congress had been complaining of booth-capturing by BJP candidate. Out of some 300 polling booths, over 280 had been declared as ‘sensitive’ by election officials. Earlier, the collector and the SP of the district were transferred by Election Commission for alleged negligence in poll duty. Congress had complained to Election Commission that EVM machines were rigged.
The Ater assembly seat got vacant after the death of Congress MLA and leader of opposition Satyadev Katare last year. His son Hemant Katare is contesting against BJP candidate Arvind Singh Bhadoria.
In Umaria district in eastern Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh assembly constituency is also voting to elect new MLA as the existing BJP leader, Gyam Singh, was elected to Loksabha in Shahdol Loksabha polls in November last year. Gyan Singh currently holds dual charge of minister and Lok Sabha member. Over 62 percent polling is reported in Bandhvagarh.
Congress state president Arun Yadav in a complaint to state election officials alleged that over two dozen polling booths had been captured by the BJP with the help of local administration and para military forces.
Earlier in the day, Congress candidate Hemant Katare was attacked by a mob when he was entering Sankri polling booth where he alleged rigging of EVMs. BJP too has complained to election officials of booth capturing by Congress workers.
In Ater, Election Commission, for the first time, is using a paper trail for the EVM—known as Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT. This trail became controversial after the buttons reportedly generated only BJP symbol. Election commission, however, in an inquiry has found that allegation of Congress was false.
