New Delhi, Jan 10: In view of inclement weather in Uttarkhand, BJP has requested the Election Commission to postpone the polling date in the hill state from January 30 to February 10 as movement of people, vehicles and material was restricted due to heavy snowfall.
BJP also requested the poll panel to remove certain officials from key positions in Uttar Pradesh, saying they were close to the ruling BSP.
The demands were made by a party delegation led by BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi when it met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi here.
“Life in Uttarakhand has come to a standstill due to heavy snowfall. Chief Minister B C Khanduri was stranded yesterday in Kotdwar during his election campaign and had to walk seven kilometres as vehicles could not move,” Naqvi said.
He maintained that voters may face problems if polling is held on January 30 as scheduled. BJP suggested to the EC that polling in Uttarakhand should be held on February 10.
“Even leaders of political parties are unable to go there for campaigning in view of the bad weather conditions. Hence, we have asked the EC to extend the polling date to help provide relief to voters,” Naqvi said.
The BJP delegation also complained against ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh and asked EC not to allow deployment of certain officials already removed by it from key positions in the state.
“We have also sought removal of certain ‘history-sheeter' officials from key positions in UP. They are acting on behalf of BSP and have already been removed by EC from top positions. Their continuation in some key posts will not ensure free and fair polls,” he said.
Naqvi rued that some officials were working as “cadres and coordinators” of BSP and specifically cited the names of UP Appointments Secretary and DGP, UP Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
The BJP leader said the EC order on curbing use of blackmoney during polls was affecting ordinary traders in the state as they are being “harassed by the ruling BSP through the state police”.
“We want that such traders should not be harassed as the money carried by them is being confiscated and common traders are being harassed in the name of unaccounted money,” he said.
Police had yesterday seized Rs 13.11 crore unaccounted cash from three places in Ghaziabad district.
The BJP leaders also accused the Congress and the BSP of playing politics in the name of caste and religion.
