Summary:
RAIPUR: Two officials of a polling party at Marwahi (ST) constituency were arrested and removed from duty , following complaints that that they are "directing the poor and elderly to press the first button, marked for BJP".Officials of the state election commission said that president officer, Surendra Kumar Mandavi of Semra polling centre at tribal Marwahi segment and another officer, Kamal Kishore Tiwari, were removed from duty when EC received complaints about the irregularities. "There were reports that these officers were trying to influence residents to cast votes for a party in particular at booth number 177 in Marwahi region of Pendra," said an official. Party workers of Congress and Janata Congress registered a complaint with the EC, following which the two were arrested.An FIR has been lodged against the two, and probe is one, said police.State CEO Subrat Sahoo told reporters that two police inspectors from Gorella and Pendra were line-attached to Bilaspur for their alleged dereliction of their duties..