The Hindu : Other States / Jammu & Kashmir News : PDP rigged polls, alleges NC

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Friday, Oct 15, 2004

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PDP rigged polls, alleges NC

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, OCT. 14. The opposition National Conference (NC) today accused the ruling coalition government led by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of rigging the by-elections in the Batamaloo and Pahalgam assembly segments held on Wednesday and demanded re-poll in both the constituencies.

Senior NC leader Abdur Raheem Rather told a press conference that their apprehensions were translated into reality by the PDP-led Government. "We had expressed our concern before the Election Commissioner, B.B. Tandon, during his visit to Kashmir that the PDP may rig the elections. And that is the reality today," Mr Rather said, adding that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had broken all records of irregularities in the elections "just to remain in power".

Bogus voting by the PDP, changing of polling booths at the last moment and a partial role played by the police helped the PDP in achieving its goal of rigging the elections, he added.

Meanwhile, the PDP refuted the allegations and in turn accused the NC of introducing the culture of bogus voting for remaining in the power. "We want that people should get rid of this culture. That is why NC is crying hoarse over the normal democratic process," a PDP spokesman said.

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PDP rigged polls, alleges NC