The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has cancelled or put on hold its internal elections in at least 18 blocks across the State after an internal scrutiny revealed the various candidates had shared incorrect information such as their age and criminal records.
The party’s internal polls were held recently to elect 1,300 mandal (block) and district level representatives. A senior State BJP leader, however, told The Hindu that the party received more than 100 complaints alleging violations in poll process.
The leader said that an appeal committee had been formed to look into such complaints and that the action was taken after a meeting of the committee was held to scrutinise the complaints.
Former Lok Sabha member from Gwalior, Vivek Shejwalkar, who heads the committee, confirmed the development to The Hindu and said that the committee has submitted its findings to senior leaders.
“Election in some blocks have been cancelled while in some places they have been put on hold. We have given our report to the concerned leaders. Now, the party will analyse the findings and take the final decision,” he said.
When asked about the kinds of violations, Mr. Shejwalkar said that they included showing wrong age or hiding criminal records against them.
“There were some candidates who were not official members of the party or had been involved in anti-party activities,” he added.
For block presidents, the BJP had fixed the age of 45 years.
Among the block-level elections cancelled or put on hold, maximum are from Seoni district. The list also includes blocks from Badwani, Rajgarh, Tikamgarh, Dhar, Khargone among other districts.
Local reports from various districts also claimed that BJP workers were upset over the process as they alleged that people who had come from the Congress had been given preference.
The BJP is currently undergoing its internal elections across the country which will end with the election of its national president.
Published – December 24, 2024 04:20 am IST