Patparganj: Kejriwal Approaches EC as Avadh Ojha Faces Threat of Disqualification

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the party has moved Election Commission of India to save its Patparganj constituency candidate Avadh Ojha from being disqualified as a contestant due to delay in shifting of his vote from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

Addressing media persons here, former Delhi CM alleged there was a conspiracy in the Delhi election office to ensure that Ojha, a voter registered with Greater Noida, couldn't contest February 5 elections to the Delhi Assembly.

"He filed Form 8 for shifting his vote to Delhi on January 7 - which is well within the EC deadline of 10 days before the start of filing of nominations on January 17 – but the CEO revised the cut-off date for accepting such application to January 6," he said.

Citing the ECI manual and guidelines, Kejriwal said the election panel's rules said that the election office can consider a late application for shifting of vote as a "special case".
He also repeated his allegation of manipulation in voters' list in the New Delhi constituency, claiming that district election officials were allegedly allowing registration of new voters with addresses of BJP MPs based in the New Delhi area.

"Thirty to 40 applications for new voters' inclusion in rolls are coming from each MP's bungalow," said Kejriwal, an allegation which has repeatedly been denied by the BJP.
The charge of tampering of voters list was also done away with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar at a time while announcing the poll schedule of the capital last week.

Contesting his maiden election, acclaimed civil services coach Avadh Ojha, who was inducted in the AAP early this month, recently likened the party supremo Kejriwal with God, calling him an 'avatar of Krishna'.

Talking to IANS, Ojha said, "Arvind Kejriwal is definitely a God, he is an incarnation of Lord Krishna."

Describing Kejriwal as the Prime Minister of 2029, he said a common teacher like him was embraced by him.

Parties of kings and royals do not even accept common people. But Kejriwal, a national leader, accepted me. I have seen his democratic approach and merit approach. He has his style of working and he always works democratically," he said.

The AAP has awarded the Patparganj ticket to Ojha in place of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is contesting this election from Jangpura.