Officials tamper postal ballots in strong-rooms: Congress in MP complains

Gwalior: The Madhya Pradesh Congress has complained to the Election Commission about the possible tampering of postal ballots after a video allegedly showed officials opening the boxes in the district of Balaghat.

State Congress chief Kamal Nath posted on social media platform X about the incident as the counting is due on December 3.

‘This is a very serious matter. Immediate action should be taken against the culprits. I appeal to the Congress workers to remain vigilant and not allow any disturbance to happen,’ a translated version of his post in Hindi said.

A widely circulated video posted by the state Congress showed officials sorting postal ballots inside a strong-room.

The Congress alleged that the District Collector without informing candidates had the strong-room opened and then officials opened the ballot boxes for postal votes.

Reports citing sources said that the nodal officer of postal ballots in Balaghat has been suspended by the Divisional Commissioner.

Meanwhile, local magistrate Gopal Soni reportedly termed it as a ‘routine procedure’, adding the process of Sorting ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System) into ‘bundles of 50’ took place under surveillance camera and with guards at the door.

The Congress is looking forward to returning to power in the polls held on November 17; its former government formed in 2018 collapsed after the party’s senior leader crossed over to the BJP with more than 20 loyalist MLAs.

The BJP pivoted largely on its star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the campaign.