Amethi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s constituency, recorded slightly over 55 percent turnout on Wednesday even as the BJP and AAP candidates accused the Congress of booth capturing and trying to influence voters in the constituency.
BJP candidate Smriti Irani entered into a verbal spat with Ms. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Public Relations Officer Preeti Sahay, objecting to her presence during polling at one of the booths in Amethi's Jagsidhpur area.
Following a complaint by the BJP to the Election Commision, Ms Sahay, who was accused by Ms. Irani of trying to influence voters, was asked to leave the constituency by the district electoral officer Jagat Raj Tripathi.
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AAP candidate Kumar Vishwas also alleged that Congress workers were engaged in intimidation and booth capturing at various places in the constituency. “Vidhansabha Booth No 41, 42 repeated complaints of bogus voting in rounds since 3 hrs,” he tweeted.
The poet-turned-politician alleged that the observers and district administration were not acting on the AAP's complaints of large scale booth capturing. Mr. Vishwas said when his election manager met Amethi SDM R.D Ram with the complaints, he was snubbed and warned not to “spread rumours.” Mr. Ram, however, said that all the booths checked after the complaint by AAP were found to be functioning normally.
UP Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha also said the poll panel received several complaints of booth capturing in Amethi, but found no evidence of bogus voting.
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