Varun Gandhi Requests EC for Neutral Observers, Transfer of DM, SP

Sensing sinister designs on part of the Uttar Pradesh state government, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Pilibhit LS segment, Varun Gandhi, on Saturday requested the Election Commission to appoint neutral observers and order video recording of the proceedings when he files in his nomination papers on April 22.

Out on a two week parole granted by the Supreme Court, Gandhi also requested the EC to transfer Pilibhit District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, alleging that they have “demonstrated their malafides” against him, says PTI.

Alternatively, directions should be issued to the DM and SP against “any illegal and partisan conduct with specific regard to my nomination process and electoral campaign,” said the BJP candidate who has been arrested for alleged hate-speech during campaigning, it added.

“It is .. requested that in order to prevent any sort of mischief by the state government on the occasion of my filing of nomination papers at Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission appoint neutral observers that may accompany me so that the entire episode may be under your scrutiny,” said the 29-year-old Gandhi in a three-page letter to the poll panel.

Voicing apprehensions, the parliamentary hopeful said the UP government could “act on its hostile attitude against me” and “create a public disturbance (on the day of his filing nomination) which it can conveniently blame on me.”