In a letter to chief election commissioner VS Sampath, Yadav mentioned media reports that "established" that a village in Mewat, which reported a high turnout, didn't have a proportionate number of people with their finger inked and villagers admitting to a pre-poll "consensus" on who they would vote for.
"We also submitted a scientific analysis of the polling station-wise turnout data, which established that there was a cluster of booths that recorded abnormally high turnout, upwards of 90% or even 95%, that these were concentrated in the areas where we had complained about rigging and that the dispersion of turnout did not follow normal statistical pattern in the three segments (Nuh, Firozpur-Zhirka and Punhana) of the constituency. This statistical analysis suggests that rigging may have been more widespread than the 110 polling stations that we have mentioned in our original complaint,' the letter read.
Immediately after the election ended on April 10, AAP held a press conference alleging large-scale rigging in 110 booths in Mewat, Rewari and Sohna. The following day, Yadav gave a formal representation to the returning officer and the EC, providing details of the nature of irregularity in the polling stations along with 'audio-visual evidence'. A couple of days later, senior party leader Prashant Bhushan met a full bench of the EC.
The letter further said, "It is one month since the day of polling. While I am yet to receive a formal response to my representation, my colleague Prashant Bhushan was told in his meeting with the commission that you have received reports from below and are not in favour of re-polling. I must confess that I am really shocked. I do not know whether you went by the report of the same officials whose negligence or collusion was responsible for these irregularities or the commission obtained an independent report in the matter."
Yogendra Yadav's Letter
Sh. V.S. Sampat
Chief Election Commisioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Bhavan
New Delhi
Chief Election Commisioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Bhavan
New Delhi
Subject: Large scale rigging in Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency
Sir:
It is with considerable surprise and anguish that I write to you about non-response from the Election Commission about my complaints regarding large scale rigging in Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency where I was the candidate from Aam Aadmi Party.
2. My party and I had complained about this on the polling day itself (10th April), held a press conference after the close of polling, given a formal representation to the Returning Officer and the EC on 11th of April and raised objections to this effect during the Scrutiny that day. We have provided details of nature of irregularity in 110 polling stations and provided audio-visual evidence to back up our claims. I met the Principal Secretary and spoke several times with the Deputy Election Commission in charge of Haryana to request for an independent probe. Subsequently, our senior party leader Shri Prashant Bhushan has personally met the full Commission twice and raised this issue. My party and I have demanded repolling in these 110 polling stations to ensure free and fair elections.
3. Following our complaint, various newspapers carried several reports that corroborated some of the points that we had made. These independent media reports established that:
· A village that reported high turnout did not have anyone with a figure mark;
· A village that reported high turnout did not have anyone with a figure mark;
· A series of photographs showed that an election agent was standing over the EVM as several women voters came and ‘cast’ their votes;
· Women voters reported that they were not allowed to vote;
· Villagers admitted that it was decided through ‘consensus’ as to which candidate should be allowed to poll how many votes; and
· Areas of abnormally high polling were concentrated in Nuh assembly segment and Taoru bloc of Sohna segment where we had alleged rigging.
4. We also submitted a scientific analysis of the polling station wise turnout data which established that there was a cluster of booths that recorded abnormally high turnout, upwards of 90% or even 95%, that these were concentrated in the areas where we had complained about rigging and that the dispersion of turnout did not follow normal statistical pattern in the three segments (Nuh, Firozpur-Zhirka and Punhana) of the constituency. This statistical analysis suggests that rigging may have been more wide-spread that the 110 Polling Stations that we have mentioned in our original complaint. Shri Prashant Bhushan brought this to your personal attention.
5. You would agree that all this constitutes enough prima facie evidence to back our demand for an independent probe into this matter. In our various meetings and discussions with the Commission officials and the Commission itself, we were assured that the Commission was taking the matter very seriously. All this while, as the Commission was looking into the matter, the CEO of Haryana and the Returning Officer of the constituency kept saying to the media that these allegations were unfounded and there was little chance of re-polling. I complained to the DEC about this as well.
6. It is one month the day of polling. While I am yet to receive a formal response to my representation, my colleague Shri Prashant Bhushan was told in his meeting with the Commission that you have received reports from below and are not in favour of re-polling. I must confess that I am really shocked. I do not know whether you went by the report of the same officials whose negligence or collusion was responsible for these irregularities or the Commission obtained an independent report in the matter.
7. I continue to have a very high regard for the independence and integrity of the Election Commission of India. As you would know I have written and spoken all over the world, including at the official Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Commission, about the record of the Election Commission that our democracy can justly take pride in. You can understand my anguish in writing this letter. My complaint is not that the Commission has been unfair to me; my concern is that the Commission’s apparent neglect of obvious irregularities brought to its attention by us and independent media may affect the Commission’s reputation. It might give an unfortunate signal that while Indian elections continue to be free and fair in an overall sense, our system is unable to respond effectively to dangerous, though localized, incidents of electoral malpractices. Needless to say, this would encourage perpetrators of such incidents and discourage those who repose their trust in the Election Commission.
Since today is the last day the Commission can order re-polling, I write to implore you to please reconsider this matter.
With regards,
Yours truly,
YOGENDRA YADAV
Candidate, Aam Aadami Party
Gurgaon, Haryana.
Candidate, Aam Aadami Party
Gurgaon, Haryana.
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