RANCHI: In a sharp critique of the Jharkhand government’s decision to conduct urban body elections using ballot papers, BJP state president and MP Aditya Sahu has voiced strong opposition. He warned that this move signals preparations for misusing state machinery to manipulate outcomes.
Sahu highlighted that after prolonged BJP agitations and stern court directives, the Hemant Soren administration was finally compelled to announce elections for 48 municipal bodies after a two-year delay. However, opting for ballot papers instead of EVMs raises serious questions about the government’s intentions, he asserted.
The BJP leader recalled that the party had demanded party-symbol based polls with EVMs, mirroring the 2018 format, but the ruling coalition rejected it outright. ‘The government fears its eroding public support amid glaring failures in governance and deteriorating law and order,’ Sahu charged.
He accused the administration of shielding criminals through police misuse, creating fertile ground for rigging local polls. ‘They plan to favor loyalists via administrative overreach,’ he said, urging the State Election Commission to ensure a fear-free, corruption-free process.
Sahu vowed that BJP workers would vigilantly monitor for irregularities. ‘If police become the government’s toolkit for foul play, they will face consequences,’ he cautioned, underscoring the party’s resolve to safeguard democratic integrity in Jharkhand’s civic elections.