AAP writes to EC, seeks video surveillance of polling booths in Varanasi

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sought video surveillance of Varanasi polling booths and deployment of central forces in Rohania and Sevapuri assembly segments, voicing apprehension of violence and intimidation on polling day.

The Election Commission on Tuesday assured AAP leader Prashant Bhushan that central forces had been deployed in Varanasi, according to a statement issued by the party.

In a letter Bhushan said, "We need adequate central forces in Varanasi to ensure that the campaign and the election can be conducted peacefully and fairly there. In particular, we are apprehending intimidation and violence in Rohania and Sevapuri assembly segments of the constituency on election day. That is the apprehension expressed by the voters there.''

The party has also requested the Commission to ensure that all the polling booths in Varanasi have a video monitor installed on all the voting machines so that the integrity of the voting in the booths can be monitored. "Varanasi is a critical election, where we are already seeing signs of violence and intimidation and we apprehend that this may continue even during the elections,'' Bhushan said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath.