BSP in favour of four-phase poll in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Oct 4 (UNI) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today requested the Election Commission (EC) to hold a four-phase poll in Gujarat for widespread participation of voters.

In a representation to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy, who was here to hold discussions with political parties and government officials before the announcement of the poll dates, the BSP said the Gujarat Government administration should be kept away from all procedures and day-to-day activities of the election process in order to conduct a free and fair election.

The three-page written representation was handed over to the CEC by Party State President Bachubhai Patel, General Secretary Nalin Bhatt and BSP Co-ordinator R P Singh during their interaction with the three-member commission.

The BSP also sought the removal of all publicity material of the State Government and Central Government with immediate effect and urged that all complaints received by the administration regarding voters list, polling booths and issuance of identity cards must be resolved as early as possible.

The Party also asked for checking of the electronic voting machines to avoid any possible tampering. It also demanded that media should be given freedom and no one should be pressurized or threatened either directly or indirectly by the State or the Central Government.

The BSP has already announced that it would contest all the 182 assembly seats in the forthcoming elections in the state.

UNI