SEC under fire from UP Opposition; meets Governor

Lucknow, Nov 9 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh State Election Commissioner Aparmita Prasad Singh, under fire from Opposition parties for alleged partisan role in the urban local body elections, today met Governor T V Rajeswar giving rise to speculations in political circles.

The meeting, first after the three-tier urban local body polls concluded earlier this month, assumes importance after various political parties charged the SEC with adopting a biased attitude in conducting the exercise.

Congress and BJP had particularly charged the body of helping candidates of the ruling dispensation, including the Samajwadi Party.

Soon after the final phase of the poll got over on November 4, Mr Rajeswar had reportedly sent a report to the Union Home Ministry raising fingers at the role of the state police during the poll exercise. The Governor, sources added, went by the various representations made to him political parties and media reports.

Talking to UNI, Aparmita Prasad Singh said he had met the Governor to brief him about the conduct of the election. ''I was not called, I had gone to brief him on the election as per constitutional requirements,'' he added.

Mr Singh maintained he clarified to the Governor that had the allegations of partiality been true, BJP and Congress could not have won so many seats, including those of mayors. ''Moreover, the victory of a large number of Independents shows the poll was conducted in the most professional way,'' he added.

The SEC said he did not talk to the Governor about the report he had sent to the Centre.

UNI SB-NAB VS PK MIR RAI1856