Mirdha urged to conduct free, fair party poll

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 16. The senior Congress leader and CWC member, Mr. Jitendra Prasada, has written to the chairman of the party's Central Election Authority (CEA), Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha, urging him to intervene and protect loyal workers from ``coteries, sycophants and time servers, who may want to capture the party''.

Urging Mr. Mirdha to take strong and urgent measures to ensure a fair and transparent poll process, Mr. Prasada said this was vital to prevent the party from becoming ``captive and fragmented''. On the delay in announcing a fresh schedule for elections to Pradesh Congress Committees and District Congress Committees, he said it had a created an impression that the lists were being deliberately delayed.

Mr. Prasada alleged this had led people to believe that the lists would be finalised just before the date for the nomination of the party president, so that there was little time to contact the delegates or attend to their complaints.

He said it was imperative for the CEA to intervene. Else the assurance by the party president that the polls would be free and fair ``will be negated''. Mr. Prasada drew Mr. Mirdha's attention to allegations that the District Returning Officers had been issued instructions not to declare results of the elections but to report to the State authority, which would declare the results after amendments. This, he said, raised doubts about a free, fair and transparent poll.

Alleging that ``decisions regarding elections were being taken by a senior office-bearer of the AICC instead of the election authority'', he said this had led to the impression that a group was trying to control the elections.

He reportedly cited the instance of Ms. Kumudben Joshi's resignation and pointed to the fact that members of the State Election Authority were openly airing their differences, while dharnas and resignations were taking place in several States.

Mr. Prasada complained that despite repeated attempts to draw the CEA's attention, little action had been taken.

He laid the onus of free and fair elections on Mr. Mirdha by pointing out that the party had amended its constitution to set up the CEA. ``Now it is your grave responsibility to implement the resolve of the party and ensure free and fair polls,'' he said.

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