Ranchi:
The Election Commission has suspended the counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha elections that were held in Jharkhand today. There are reports that the election could be countermanded because of allegations that votes have been bought by wealthy candidates -a decision is expected by 10 pm this evening. Seven candidates are contesting the Jharkhand's two Rajya Sabha seat.
In its communication to the returning officers of the assemblies of Jharkhand, the Election Commission asked them to submit detailed and comprehensive reports of the conduct of polls on Friday with special reference to any untoward incident immediately after voting was over. The poll panel also asked the election officials not to declare the results of the Rajya Sabha polls till the commission gives its nod.
IANS reports the Election Commission said it would ask the returning officers to count the votes after perusing their reports on the conduct of polls. Counting was scheduled to start at 5 pm today.
Two crores rupees in cash were found this morning in a car in Ranchi. The vehicle belongs to a businessman whose brother, R K Agarwal, is contesting the Rajya Sabha elections from Jharkhand today. Mr Agarwal is an independent candidate.
The state has a notorious history of serving as an entry point to the Rajya Sabha for wealthy businessmen.
This time around, the Left's Gurudas Dasgupta had written to the Election Commission alleging that MLAs who vote for the Rajya Sabha MPs are being "horse-traded." He also complained that Jharkhand has begun hosting outsiders with little or no experience in politics as candidates for the Rajya Sabha.
The most controversial candidate this year was Anshuman Mishra, an NRI who resides in London. He was initially offered support by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but withdrew from the election after some of the party's most senior leaders said they would ask BJP MLAs to vote against him. R K Aggarwal, who is being backed by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is a businessman from Chhattisgarh. Another candidate, Pawan Kumar Dhoot is a businessman from Kolkata.
(with IANS inputs)