India
Updated : May 07, 2014, 07:01 PM IST
In the most recent controversy surrouding BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the BJP has alleged "partiality" in the denial of permissions for Modi's rally that were scheduled for tomorrow.
The party has gone so far as to demand the removal of the city's polling officer over the incident. At a press conference in New Delhi, BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the party was making a request to the Election Commission to recall Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav for working in a biased and prejudiced manner against Modi.
In a letter to the Election Commission, BJP leader Arun Jailtey said the poll official was verbally informed of the rallies on May 5, while the formal application was sent May 6.
BJP demands removal of RO of Varanasi for conduct of free and fair election. Shri @arunjaitley files complaint. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/tskFFWWHgP
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 7, 2014
Jaitley also said that 27 political workers were arrested while they were distributing pamphlets and were kept in custody for two and a half days, interfering in the party's campaign. Jaitley stated that the party also plans to hold protests against the official, terming the decision to deny venue as "unprecedented" and "unheard of". "I don't know who is interfering but the returning officer of this constituency is a threat to free and fair election," Jaitley said.
At a press conference, this evening, BJP declared protest rallies, led by Jaitley, Naqvi and Amit Shah. They announced that they planned to sit outside BHU in protest at 11 am tomorrow:
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley to lead protests outside DM's office in Varanasi after Modi rally was denied permission #VaranasiBlock
— BJP Varanasi (@BJP_Varanasi) May 7, 2014
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to lead protests outside the Election Commission office in New Delhi #VaranasiBlock
— BJP Varanasi (@BJP_Varanasi) May 7, 2014
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the Varanasi administration was obeying an "unwritten order" and there is an "undeclared understanding" between them and the ruling Samajwadi Party. She said it was for the first time a candidate was denied permission to hold a rally in his own constituency.
However, reports suggest that the party was offered an alternative venue, which they turned down on the grounds of being "too small".
The incident saw fall out on social media as well, with outraged BJP supporters condemning poll officials:
First time seeing a candidate is not allowed conducting his campaigning in his constituency. @narendramodi 's 3events denied #VaranasiBlock
— Pashyanti Shukla'ऋता (@pashyantii) May 7, 2014
So, they banned @narendramodi from Varanasi, but allow Raul inside a polling booth to check on voting machine! #Elections2014 #VaranasiBlock
— himanpan (@himanpan) May 7, 2014
#VaranasiBlock is the most unprecedented and illegal ban by district administration and by the Congress and SP.
— Harshoak (@harshoak) May 7, 2014
The only thing which is left for EC is to completely rig EVM's in Varanasi.#Varanasiblock
— RajeevNagpal (@Rajeevnagpal) May 7, 2014
bjp justified : Are district authorties right or is BJP justified when it claims conspiracy to Modi's events being blocked? #VaranasiBlock"
— Saurabh Kedia (@Saurabh1680) May 7, 2014