BJS cries foul on Pandhana counting

Bhopal, Dec 8 (UNI) The Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) today alleged irregularities during counting of votes in the recent bypoll at Khandwa district's Pandhana assembly constituency and warned that it would move court.

BJS state president Raghunandan Sharma led a sit-in and demonstration here. Later interacting with mediapersons, he alleged, ''the district administration played an overt role in the irregularities. During counting, the Khandwa district unit president objected but was subjected to misbehaviour by the assistant returning officer and later removed from the counting centre.'' Warning that the BJS would move court, Mr Sharma said though his party lost three Vidhan Sabha byelections in Madhya Pradesh, the votes polled by the BJS revealed that the party emerged as a third force.

''The BJS will contemplate alliances with like-minded outfits for the 2008 assembly hustings. We have no objection to joining hands with any party other than the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress,'' he added.

Regarding BJS founder-president and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti's ill-health, Mr Sharma said that doctors had recommended some tests but she had been unable to go to Delhi owing to her busy schedule. Ms Bharti may undertake the trip later this month.

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