Jharkhand BJP state president and MP Aditya Sahu on Tuesday accused the Hemant Soren-led government of preparing to misuse state machinery in the forthcoming urban local body elections by opting for ballot-based voting instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
His remarks came after the Jharkhand State Election Commission announced the schedule for municipal elections to be held on February 27, with counting of votes on March 2. The polls will be conducted in a single phase across 49 urban local bodies, including six Municipal Corporations, 19 Municipal Councils and 24 Nagar Panchayats, covering 1,087 wards. With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in all municipal areas concerned.
Addressing a press conference in Ranchi, Sahu said the declaration of elections, pending for nearly two years, had come only after sustained agitation by the BJP and strict directions from the judiciary. Welcoming the announcement, he alleged that the state government had already begun making preparations to influence the electoral process through the use of administrative power.
The BJP leader said his party had demanded that the elections be conducted on a party basis and through EVMs, as was done in 2018. “The intention of the government is not clear. Conducting elections through ballot papers reflects a conspiracy to manipulate the outcome,” he alleged.
Sahu claimed that the ruling alliance feared electoral defeat as its public support had weakened due to governance failures and a deteriorating law and order situation. “The government does not want to face defeat in a transparent, party-based election,” he said, adding that large-scale administrative failures had eroded public confidence.
He further accused the state government of misusing the police and administrative machinery and providing protection to criminals, warning that similar practices could be repeated during the municipal elections. He urged the State Election Commissioner to ensure that the polls were conducted in a fear-free, fair and corruption-free manner.
“The BJP will keep a close watch on any possible irregularities at the state level. If the police administration attempts to function as a tool of the government, it will not be spared,” Sahu said.
According to the State Election Commission, more than 43 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the municipal polls, including 22.7 lakh men, 21.2 lakh women, and 144 voters from the third gender category. A total of 4,304 polling stations have been set up across the state, of which 2,129 have been identified as sensitive and will be provided with additional security arrangements.
The Commission has directed district administrations to make comprehensive arrangements for security and election management. Measures such as videography, webcasting, and the deployment of micro-observers will be undertaken at select polling stations to ensure transparency. It has also warned that strict action will be taken against any violation of the Model Code of Conduct.