Press BSP to vote BJP: Delhi MCD election sees a different kind of tampering
Press the symbol of the BSP on the EVM machine to elect the BJP candidate. At a time when credibility of EVMs is being questioned by many opposition parties, this may look like a case of a tampered voting machine. But this is a pamphlet distributed at the home of residents of Lado Sarai MCD ward of Delhi.
After this shocker, there is an explainer. The pamphlet reads: “Dear friends, as you are aware that for MCD election to ward number 67 (s) Lado Sarai, Ms Pinky was declared the candidate from BJP but due to some technical reason, her nomination was cancelled. Now, BJP has supported BSP candidate Mrs Lata Soni (ex-SBI officer) as its candidate."
It goes on to say, “Mrs Lata Soni and her family have accepted the membership of BJP. As per Election Commission rules, the party symbol cannot be changed so it’s my humble request to all of you that please press BSP symbol (elephant) for supporting BJP strategies for ward No. 67 (s) Lado Sarai for better developed and prosperous Delhi.”
That means you vote for the BSP symbol of the Elephant to ensure victory for the BJP, whose election symbol is the Lotus. This pamphlet has another deadly mix-up. It bears the elephant sign with a saffron swastika drawn on its back. It has been issued by the BJP, Lado Sarai Mandal.
While you may be confused, the contestant is sure that it will not baffle voters.
There are similar stories in a few other constituencies where nominations of BJP candidates have been cancelled. An independent candidate Gulfam, contesting from Abul Fazal Enclave, the NCP candidate from Vindo Nagar, Rahul Singh, and independent candidate from Bapraula, Amrita Rashmi are also supported by the BJP.
There are two English phrases which can be used any time to talk about contemporary Indian politics. The first is "politics makes strange bedfellows". And second, an observation by Otto von Bismarck: “Politics is the art of the possible”. Both fit aptly to the present situation.
And the story of strange bedfellows is repeated every day. Our politics never proves it wrong. On Sunday, former minister in the AAP government, Sandeep Kumar, was seen campaigning door-to-door for the BJP candidate from Narela, Savita Khatri.
The controversial AAP leader had been sacked from Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's government after a sex video allegedly involving him emerged in August 2016. He was also suspended from the party later.
Defending his campaign, Kumar said he was doing it for his “friends”. He further said: “Where ever my friends are fighting, I will support them. Be it BJP, BSP or the Congress, I will campaign for all my friends. Mr Khatri is a dear friend, so I am campaigning for his wife.”
Though BJP candidate Savita Khatri showed no resentment towards Kumar’s support, the saffron party wasn't amused and first denied this report. A video clip had surfaced showing Kumar slamming Kejriwal and extending support to the BJP candidate.
After that, the BJP changed its line of defence and alleged that it was the AAP which had "hatched a conspiracy" to defame the saffron party. Another BJP spokesperson termed it a planned conspiracy hatched by the AAP and Congress to hamper the prospects of the BJP candidate in the Narela ward.
Hitting out at Kumar, Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted: "BJP never invited him for campaign, He came along with media. BJP Office Bearers & Karyakartas sent him back from Rally venue in few Seconds."
Kumar has almost ruined his political future after getting involved in the alleged sex scandal. And among the men who went after him, Bagga made his political fortune after thrashing lawyer and social activist Prashant Bhushan over a statement he had made on Kashmir.
Vote for independent BSP, NCP candidate to get BJP elected or to support it. An MLA allegedly facing a sex scandal campaigning for the BJP candidate. A party which boasts about its “chaal, charitra and chehra” (behaviour, character and face). A spokesperson of BJP, a "party with difference", hitting out at the MLA. And this spokesperson has a tainted past.
Does this not reiterate the fact that politics makes strange and sometime even strangers, bedfellows? Isn't Delhi's MCD election again proving that politics is the art of possibilities?