PDP writes to ECI, alleges money being given to lure voters in ongoing elections

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday alleged that their opposition and the region’s oldest party, JKNC is trying to manipulate elections by misusing the power of its elected members to ‘intimidate voters. This, the PDP said is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The application, printed on the official letter pad of the party’s candidate from Budgam, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi says that there have been “rampant and illegal distribution of money while the people associated with my party are threatened of the consequences on the day of polling and later.”

These techniques, the application said, raise serious questions regarding the impartiality of the district administration and police, especially CEO of Budgam. It questions the free and fair conduct of the elections, reads the application.

Mehdi further urged the ECI to take immediate action and “deploy substantial election personnel to investigate and prevent such illegal use of constitution position and measures that affect the peaceful conduct of the election process.”

Posting the letter on its official X handle, PDP said that alarming reports of cash being distribute to influence voters in Budgam and Ganderbal. “We appeal ECI to instruct police and authorities to swiftly prevent such electoral violations.”

“The blatant rigging of the 1987 elections plunged J&K into chaos and we cannot afford to allow history to repeat itself,” PDP wrote. (GK)