Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu has kicked off a controversy by decrying the state decision to hold civic body elections via ballot papers, terming it a precursor to electoral malpractices by those in power.
The announcement for 48 municipal polls came only after relentless BJP campaigns and court interventions ended a two-year stalemate. But Sahu sees the ballot choice as a red flag, diverging from the party’s call for EVMs and party symbols as in past elections.
In detailed remarks, he pointed to the government’s sinking credibility—marked by policy failures and law enforcement breakdowns—as the root cause. ‘Terrified of defeat in transparent polls, they’re plotting to sway results through ballots and biased policing,’ Sahu alleged.
He spotlighted alleged criminal patronage via police, foreseeing its extension to local elections to prop up allies. Sahu pressed the State Election Commission for safeguards against intimidation and fraud, committing BJP to proactive oversight.
‘Law enforcers acting as political pawns will not be spared,’ he declared. This standoff highlights escalating tensions ahead of the polls, potentially reshaping Jharkhand’s urban governance landscape.