Jharkhand Polls: Presiding Officer Replaced After Allegations of Favouring Candidate

Deoghar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday said he h filed a complaint with Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly "favouring a ruling party candidate" in Mhupur assembly constituency during voting.

Dubey claimed that following his complaint, officer was arrested.

"I filed a complaint with Election Commission against presiding officer at booth number 111 in Mhupur, Deoghar district, for favouring Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and Minister Hafizul Hassan. commission took my complaint seriously and arrested officer," Dubey told reporters in Deoghar.

However, Deoghar ministration said officer was replaced after being found too close to voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules.

An official statement from Deoghar ministration clarified that presiding officer at booth number 111 h been replaced.

"During monitoring in webcasting room, presiding officer was found too close to voting compartment, which violates Election Commission rules and demonstrates gross negligence in performing duties," statement re.

returning officer has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action if necessary, statement ded.

Deoghar SP Ambar Lakra clarified that officer was replaced, not arrested.

" officer has been replaced, and a probe has been initiated. Furr action will be based on investigation report," Lakra told PTI.

JMM alleged that officer was removed based on a baseless complaint.

" officer was removed on a baseless complaint, which will be proven false in investigation. What’s interesting is that Election Commission acts quickly on Dubey's complaints, but when we file complaints, y go unheard," said JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey.

Polling for 38 assembly seats in second and final phase of Jharkhand elections is underway on Wednesday, with tight security arrangements in place. Voting began at 7 AM across 14,218 booths in 12 districts and will continue until 5 PM.

(This story is not edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)