The Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Tuesday, 21 May, alleged that attempts were being made to manipulate Lok Sabha poll results in favour of the ruling NDA and warned blood may spill on the streets on account of tremendous public anger.
At a joint press conference in Patna, which was addressed by RLSP chief and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, RJD state president Ramchandra Purve, state Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and other leaders of the Grand Alliance, they alleged exit polls prediction of NDA winning 30 or more seats in Bihar out of 40 was misleading and aimed at causing demoralisation among the party cadres, with a malafide intent.
“Earlier, we used to hear about booth loot. This time, it is suspected that attempts may be made to loot the results. These could be through manipulation of the EVMs or any other measures at the counting centres. The leaders of the NDA are hereby warned not to indulge in such a misadventure. There is tremendous public anger and blood may spill on the streets, for which we shall not be held responsible.”Upendra Kushwaha
Kushwaha also urged the people of Bihar and the Mahagathbandhan to use weapons if needed, in order to protect their votes, news agency ANI reported.
“In moments of desperation people pick up arms. The NDA must take care that things do not reach a flashpoint. Otherwise, we will not be responsible for the consequences,” Kushwaha said.
“We have all toured the state during elections and can say, without any hesitation, that we are set to win most of the seats in the state. Such has been the public response in favour of the Mahagathbandhan,” he said.
“The NDA, therefore, seems to have devised a plan to demoralise the opposition cadres so that the rigged results could later be justified. We are dealing with people who are in power but have no scruples.”
All mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) workers are, therefore, urged to keep round-the-clock vigil at counting centres and stand their ground if they find anything amiss during the counting of votes, the RLSP chief who is contesting from his sitting seat of Karakat, besides Ujiyarpur, said.
The RLSP chief, whose views were echoed by other alliance partners present at the press conference, also expressed concern over reports, in a section of the media, of EVMs being transported a day after polling was over in several parts of the country, including Saran district in Bihar.
The Election Commission in Patna has issued a release denying these reports and asserting the EVMs at Saran were meant for training the personnel involved in counting. These were not from among the polled machines kept at the strong room. Rather, these were kept at a warehouse for training purposes.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)