Youth Cong workers create a ruckus over 'rigging' party polls

Bengaluru, May 19: Tension prevailed for some time at the Congress Bhavan on Race Course Road on Thursday as supporters of youth Congress leaders indulged in heated arguments over ‘malpractice’ in the elections to office-bearers of Bengaluru City youth Congress Committee.

Two groups of youth Congress workers indulged in arguments, accusing each other of rigging the elections. Some of the workers even staged a protest in front of the Congress Bhavan, demanding that the party should declare the elections as null and void. They were charging that ballot boxes were tampered with and hundreds of bogus votes have been cast.

Later, a group of youth Congress workers barged into the Congress Bhavan premises where counting of votes was taking place and tried to manhandle the returning officers. The situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police. Counting of votes was suspended for nearly four hours due to the chaos. However, the counting resumed later.

Some of the supporters of those who have contested the elections had recently complained to the Indian Youth Congress that a section of leaders was indulging in malpractice.

Polling was held between May 14 and 16 to elect office-bearers of district and state youth Congress committees.

Counting of votes for the election of state office-bearers is scheduled to be held on May 20 in Bengaluru.