When election officials meted out ‘special’ treatment to Mayawati

Anurag Shuka

Lucknow: It seems even the election officials follow different sets of rules for persons of different social strata.

It became evident during the third phase polling of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections here on Sunday when the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was given a special treatment in complete violation of election code of conduct.

At the VIP polling booth, installed at Lucknow Montessori School, even the senior citizens of the age of 92 to 97 were made to stand in queue to cast their votes, but the rules suddenly changed when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati reached at the venue. Not only her vehicle but her entire carcade was given access inside the premises much to the dismay of common electorate made to toil there.

The EC also failed to provide adequate arrangements to the elderly voters. At around 8.30 am, when Dr SK Jain, 92-year-old, reached the polling booth, his car was stopped out of the polling station, and also, unlike the previous occasions he was not provided wheelchair.

It was for some photojournalists to take him inside the polling booth which enable him to cast his vote.

When pointed out this discrimination, the joint chief election commissioner AK Pandey told www.newstrack.com to take appropriate action in the matter if anyone found guilty.