In a move that could further embarrass UP chief minister Mayawati in the midst of elections, UP Lokayukta Justice N.K. Mehrotra has now recommended action against BSP minister Abdul Mannan for forging electoral rolls in Hardoi district.
The Lokayukta has also sent his report to the Election Commission, recommending appropriate action against the minister and his family members.
The minister, Abdul Mannan, and his brother Abdul Hannan have been found guilty of getting themselves and 27 of their family members registered as voters in four different polling stations spread across two Assembly segments.
The Lokayukta, during inquiry, found their names on the electoral rolls for Assembly elections and panchayat polls in Asain Azampur and Gogawan Jot polling segments of Balamau constituency as well as those for Mehatwana and Baroni polling segments of Sandila constituency, both in Hardoi district, since 2003.
Holding more than one voter’s card or getting one’s name registered in electoral rolls of more than one place is a violation of Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, which carries a maximum punishment of one year. However, as the management of electoral rolls is under the Election Commission, the Lokayukta has asked the chief electoral officer to act according to “EC provisions”. The Lokayukta has sent an interim report so that the irregularities are brought to the EC’s notice before the Assembly poll.
The minister, who is contesting from Sandila, has already filed his nomination papers.
In his reply, the minister had told the Lokayukta that he had nothing to do with his name featuring in the voters’ lists at four places. The complaint against the minister was lodged by one Anurag Tripathi, a resident of Hardoi, in November last year.