Jogi demands deployment of para-military for Kota by-poll

Raipur, Nov 25 (UNI) Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has demanded deployment of central para-military forces to ensure free and fair by-election in Kota assembly constituency where polling is scheduled for December 4.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Jogi alleged that the ruling BJP was hell bent upon playing foul to rig polls through misuse of police power as policemen of lesser integrity and questionable bonafides had been posted on the pretext of election duty in the constituency.

In Kota by-election, Mr Jogi's wife Dr Renu (Congress) is pitted against BJP rival Bhupendra Singh Thakur in a 23-cornered contest.

Mr Jogi alleged that ministers, who had stationed themselves at strategic locations, were directly ordering local police officers to harass Congress workers by threatening to detain them on the pretext of fabricated and false criminal cases.

The former Chief Minister alleged massive infiltration of criminal elements from the neighbouring states posing as BJP workers in almost all the villages, especially in the tribal areas, in order to cast bogus votes and capture booths.

Demanding deployment of central para-military forces in substitution of state police force, Mr Jogi said if the commission should decide not to intervene at once, then the assembly by-election is bound to be rigged at the behest of the ruling party.

''I am writing this letter fully conscious of the past decisions of the ECI in such circumstances that have resulted in withdrawal of state police force and the immediate deployment of non-politicised central para-military forces,'' he added.

Mr Jogi also welcomed the ECI decision to transfer such officers, who had completed three-year tenure in the district.

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