Dehra Dun, Jul 9 (PTI) The Uttarakhand election office today ordered an inquiry by district magistrate into the alleged rigging in Sitarganj byelections as the BJP formally lodged a complaint seeking cancellation of nomination of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. “We have asked the Udhamsingh Nagar District Magistrate to inquire the alleged bogus voting in Sitarganj as being reported in the media,” Radha Raturi, state chief election officer said. “We have also asked the DM to inquire whether an Uttar Pradesh MLA voted yesterday in Sitarganj,” Raturi said. However, she gave no time frame for the completion of the inquiry but said she would seek advice from the chief election commissioner regarding the BJP’s demand to withhold the counting of votes on July 11. The byelections for Sitarganj were held yesterday with BJP alleging wide-spread rigging in the elections. “In the entire election process at Sitarganj, the state government has violated the election commission norms. Looking at the seriousness of the matter, the nomination of Vijay Bahuguna, a Congress candidate, should be cancelled and a detailed inquiry should be ordered,” BJP candidate Prakash Pant said in his complaint to the election commission. The chief minister, a non-MLA, must win from Sitarganj to continue in office as per legislative provisions. Pant, a former cabinet minister, also demanded that the counting of votes, which is scheduled to take place on July 11, should be withheld till the completion of inquiry. Pant alleged that Samajwadi Party MLA from Uttar Pradesh Prem Prakash Singh, who represents Barhaj seat of Devaria district, has cast his vote in Sitarganj in gross violations of the election norms.
Src: IBN Live