BJP cancels internal polling in many places across Madhya Pradesh over alleged violations of law

Internal BJP polls were recently held to elect 1,300 candidates auction (block) and district level representatives. File. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has canceled or postponed its by-elections in at least 18 blocks across the State after an internal investigation revealed that various candidates had shared incorrect information such as their age and criminal records.

An internal poll of the group was recently conducted to select 1,300 candidates auction (block) and district level representatives. A senior BJP leader of the state, however, said A Hindu that the party received more than 100 complaints alleging violations of the voting process.

The leader said that an appeals committee has been formed to look into such complaints, this action was taken after the meeting of the committee to consider the complaints.

Former Lok Sabha member from Gwalior, Vivek Shejwalkar, who heads the committee, confirmed this A Hindu and said the committee has sent its findings to senior leaders.

“Elections in some blocks have been suspended while in other areas they have been suspended. We gave our report to the relevant leaders. Now the group will analyze the findings and take a final decision,” he said.

When asked about the types of violations, Mr. Shejwalkar said they include misrepresenting their age or concealing their criminal records.

“There were some candidates who were not official members of the party or were involved in anti-party activities,” he added.

For block presidents, the BJP had stood for 45 years.

Among the block-level elections that were canceled or postponed, the majority came from Seoni district. The list also includes blocks from Badwani, Rajgarh, Tikamgarh, Dhar, Khargone among other districts.

Local reports from various districts also said that BJP workers were upset with the plan as they said that people from Congress were being selected first.

Currently, the BJP will hold internal elections across the country that will end with the election of its national president.