Congress, RK Anand's complaints are frivolous: Dr Subhash Chandra

Media moghul and recently elected Rajya Sabha member Dr Subhash Chandra has hit out at the Congress and RK Anand for lodging “frivolous” complaint against him for allegedly manipulating the pen for marking the votes at the Biennial Election to Council of State of Haryana, 2016, and added that these complaints were “based on whimsical assumptions without a shred of evidentiary backing”.

In a statement issued, Chandra said, “Election Commission in Delhi had reviewed the proceedings post counting and after going through the same had given clearance to declare the results. The same is clearly reflected in the videos that were reviewed by the Election Commission. It is evidently clear from the interviews provided by various members of different parties regarding how the charges were traded between INLD and INC, right after the night of the election and the same allegations continued till 12th of June.”

The statement further said, “On 13th June, a new theory was coined blaming me to have cheated by magically exchanging the pen provided by Election Commission to cast the vote. It is a matter to record that the entire election process was transparent and no one, during the vote counting process, could have been certain as to the fact that Congress votes could be rejected/ declared invalid as there was no mark to identify as who had marked which ballot.”

Chandra, in the statement, also mentioned that despite clear instructions to mark vote on ballot paper by violet sketch pen, some MLAs had consciously and deliberately marked their votes wrongly, resulting in the rejection of votes. “It will not be completely out of context to mention here that the whip issued by INC and INLD to vote for Mr RK Anand in itself is a penal offence and is punishable under Section 171-C of Indian Penal Code,” the statement further said.

Chandra maintained, “The fall of events and complaints followed after the election results are only aimed at maligning my reputation and goodwill as an Elected Candidate. Even after showcasing its transparency in holding the elections, the Election Commission is also targeted with complaints, which are only based on assumptions of complainant.”

“I would once again like to reiterate my position as an honest candidate whose aim is to simply work for the interest of Haryana,” he concluded.