Ballot paper voting tantrums: Will Bhupesh Baghel strategy give him an edge?

More than 200 people buy nomination papers for Rajnandgaon LS seat

Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat had already become a high-voltage seat due to the entry of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the fray, now another new discussion has started with this seat. So far more than 200 people have bought nomination forms from Rajnandgaon.

Raveesh Benjamin

Raipur. Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat of Chhattisgarh is one of those parliamentary seats where elections are to be held in the second phase. Along with Rajnandgaon, voting is also to be held in the second phase in Kanker and Mahasamund seats of the state. At present, the nomination process is going on for these seats. Tomorrow (April 4) is the last date for submitting nomination forms. Congress candidate from Rajnandgaon seat, former CM Bhupesh Baghel and BJP candidate and current MP Santosh Pandey filed their nominations a day earlier (April 2). So far 13 people have filed nominations for the Rajnandgaon parliamentary seat, but today a shocking incident took place there.

A sudden crowd of people gathered at Rajnandgaon Collectorate today. Everyone had come to buy nomination forms to contest the elections. These included people from different blocks and district headquarters of the parliamentary constituency. More than 200 people have bought nomination forms throughout the day. The sale of nomination papers on such a large scale is being linked to the statement of former CM Bhupesh Baghel in which Baghel had said that if more than 375 nominations are submitted, then the election will be held with ballot paper instead of EVM.

//Bhupesh Baghel says

Former CM Bhupesh Baghel, while addressing Congress workers in Patan area before Holi, had talked about elections with ballot paper for fair elections. He had said that if elections are to be held with ballot paper, then the figure of 375 candidates will have to be crossed. Then elections will be held with ballot paper instead of EVM.

///So far 241 people have bought nomination forms

So far 241 people have taken nomination forms for Rajnandgaon parliamentary seat. Out of these 210 have taken them today, while 31 people have taken the forms before this. Out of these 13 people have submitted nomination papers in 19 sets. In this regard, 222 more forms are yet to come. Out of the 210 people who bought the forms today, dozens of people have taken the form as Congress candidates.

// Rs 25 thousand to be deposited to contest elections

Filing nomination for Lok Sabha elections is not a cheap task. A person willing to contest elections has to deposit 25 thousand rupees as security amount along with the nomination form. For Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) this fee is half i.e. 12 thousand 500 rupees. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see how many of the people who have bought more than 200 nomination forms pay this amount and submit the form. By the way, tomorrow is the last day to submit nomination. In such a situation, the whole picture will be clear tomorrow.

// BJP has complained to Election Commission

A complaint has been filed against Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha candidate and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for violation of the code of conduct before the Election Commission of India, in which District BJP Vice President Rajendra Kumar on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party has said in a written complaint that Bhupesh Baghel, MLA of Patan Assembly constituency under Durg district of Chhattisgarh state, who has been declared the Congress candidate from Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, has issued an inflammatory statement against the Election Commission of India in the Congress workers’ conference held in Amalori village of Patan Assembly on March 26, and has made a public statement to the effect that if there are more than 375 candidates in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, then the Election Commission will have to conduct voting through ballot paper in Rajnandgaon, so workers of Patan area should go to Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency in maximum numbers and file nominations.
Rajendra Kumar further said in his complaint that former Chief Minister and Patan MLA Bhupesh Baghel has tried to tarnish the reputation of the Election Commission of India through the said statement, as well as trying to improperly influence the election process and improperly incite the Congress leaders of Patan area to go to Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency and file nominations. Bhupesh Baghel has incited the public against EVM and by giving statements to more than 375 people to file nominations, he has worked to corrupt the clean and healthy election process of the Election Commission. The said act of Bhupesh Baghel is a clear violation of the election code of conduct. Bhupesh Baghel has violated the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, necessary legal action should be taken against him and Bhupesh Baghel should be banned from campaigning outside Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency.