THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Dumka, June 1: Sita Soren, the BJP candidate running for the Dumka Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand, alleged anomalies and irregularities in the voting procedure on Saturday and called for re-polling in the constituency.
Sita alleged that the voting process was being deliberately delayed. She is the sister-in-law of imprisoned former Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Inexperienced BLO’s deployed, deliberate delays: Sita Soren
”I have visited several booths in Dumka urban and found irregularities. I have informed the deputy commissioner in this regard. Inexperienced booth level officers (BLOs) have been deployed due to which electors are facing trouble,” Sita stated.
”The delay is being done deliberately. I will write to Election Commission to cancel the voting here and conduct a re-poll,” she added.
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Sita brought up the issue after receiving complaints from voters about delays at booths 44 and 45.
Sita, a three-time JMM MLA, switched to the BJP on March 20, stating she had felt isolated and neglected by the JMM since the death of her husband, Durga Soren, in 2009.
Jharkhand CEO denies allegations
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar dismissed her allegations, asserting that polling was progressing smoothly across the three Lok Sabha constituencies of Dumka, Rajmahal, and Godda.
Kumar informed that by 11 a.m., voter turnout was 29.24 per cent in Dumka, 29.39 per cent in Godda, and 30.04 per cent in Rajmahal. ”It means, average turnout is almost similar in all three constituencies,” he stated.
