BJP candidate Smriti Irani contests presence of Priyanka’s PRO at polling booth

BJP candidate Smriti Irani and Public Relations Officer of Priyanka Gandhi, Preeti Sahay, entered in a verbal dual on Wednesday as the former objected to her presence at one of the booths in Jagdishpur area here.

Following the incident, BJP complained to the Election Commission on the presence of Sahay at a polling booth in Thori village in Jagdishpur area here alleging that she was trying to influence the voters.

“When Smriti Irani reached booth number 210 and 211 at Thori village in Jagdishpur village, she saw PRO of Priyanka Gandhi, Preeti Sahay, at the booth. Irani asked her for the pass which she could not produce. Sahay being an outsider should not have entered the booth,” Ashok Patel, PRO of Ms. Irani told reporters.

District Electoral Officer Jagat Raj Tripathi told PTI that on the complaint of Ms. Irani, Ms. Sahay was taken out of the booth by the police.

“We have received a complaint from Irani. Prima facie we found that both the persons were wrong in their own places.

While Ms. Sahay should not have been inside the booth, Ms. Irani also misbehaved inside the booth,” Mr. Tripathi said.

Another complaint was made by BJP from Gunnaur village in the Musafirkhana area where it alleged that some youths carrying over a lakh of cash are distributing among voters.

“Both the boys have been detained. We have not recovered any cash from them but questioning in going on,” Superintendent of Police Hira Lal said.

Polling is going on at 1246 booths at this prestigious constituency which is seeing a contest between Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, TV actress-turned-politician Ms. Irani who is contesting on BJP ticket and Aam Admi Party’s Kumar Vishwas.