Hardik: BJP will use "fake sex CD" to defame me!
What's the story
The run-up to the Gujarat elections seems to be getting sensational by the day.
In an explosive claim, Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel said BJP has prepared a doctored sex CD to defame him for making electoral gains.
He also alleged that defective Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) and EVMs might be used for upcoming polls.
Here's more on these explosive claims!
Quote
How did Hardik get to know about the sex CD?
When asked how he got wind of this CD, Hardik said "This is typical of the BJP. What else can one expect from the BJP? So just wait, watch and enjoy." The state BJP president Jitu Vaghani didn't respond to Hardik's allegations.
VVPATs
Hardik alleges BJP uses "golmaal" techniques for winning elections
Gujarat's chief electoral officer (CEO) BB Swain had earlier rejected 3,550 VVPAT machines.
Referring to this, Hardik tweeted that "3,550 VVPAT machines failed in the first level test by the Election Commission. I am very sure that BJP will fight the Assembly polls through unfair means only."
Hardik said VVPATs "were not working properly at several places"; this will benefit the ruling party BJP.
EC
What did the EC have to say to this?
Swain refuted Hardik's claims. He said about 70,000 VVPATs were required for the polls. As per standard procedure, first level checks were conducted on about 69,000 machines and of these 3,550 were found defective.
Further, he claimed that they were already sent back to be fixed. He added that this development should be taken in a positive manner as defective units were identified.
Reason
Why are these VVPATs defective?
According to Swain, physical damage happens "during transit" because the units come from other states.
Election commissioner, OP Rawat said normal failure rate during first-level check of VVPATs/EVMs is 3-4%. "With a total 70,000 VVPAT-enabled EVMs deployed by EC for Gujarat polls, this translates to a failure rate of 5%."
The higher failure rate was because of first-time handling of VVPATs by the staff.
Hardik
Meanwhile, Hardik keeps Congress on tenterhooks
Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik has not declared his support for the Congress and has been openly criticizing the BJP. Meanwhile, Congress and the BJP have been wooing Patidars.
Patel warned that the BJP might fuel communal tension ahead of the polls.
Further, his November 7 meeting with the Congress regarding Patidar reservation will decide the future of the alliance.