Divya Maderna ends Mathania poll protest after administration assures fair poll process

Jaipur, Sep 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Congress MLA Divya Maderna on Tuesday ended her overnight sit-in outside the Returning Officer's office in Mathania after the Jodhpur district administration provided written assurances of a fair, transparent and impartial election process for the upcoming 2026 Mathania Municipality polls.

Maderna had launched the protest alleging bias by police and administrative officials during the nomination process.

"I am currently sitting outside the RO’s office in Mathania in protest against this alleged discrimination and demanding answers from the administration. If bias is allowed to enter the electoral process itself, how can public faith in free, fair and democratic elections be maintained? This is not merely a question of discrimination against a Congress candidate; it strikes at the spirit of the Constitution and the foundations of our democratic system. The Returning Officer must answer: Under whose pressure, and for what reason, was this discriminatory action allegedly taken?” she questioned in her post on X.

She alleged that BJP leaders, including the local MLA and a BJP candidate, were allowed to enter the RO’s office after the 3 p.m. nomination deadline had expired.

She further alleged that the local Station House Officer (SHO) escorted BJP leaders inside, while a Congress candidate already present at the office was mistreated and removed.

Senior police and district administration officials held discussions with Maderna late Monday night and again on Tuesday morning. Following the talks, the administration reportedly agreed to investigate the conduct of the concerned SHO and RO and assured that there would be no unnecessary interference by police or administrative officials during the election process.

As part of the measures announced to strengthen transparency, two additional observers will be deployed each in the Mathania and Tinwari municipal areas. The election process will also be conducted under the supervision of the Additional District Collector (ADM).

Maderna said she had ended the protest after receiving written assurances from the administration.

She maintained that her objective was to ensure equal treatment for the ruling party and opposition and to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. The administration’s decision to deploy additional observers and place the election process under senior-officer supervision is expected to bring increased scrutiny to the civic polls in Mathania and surrounding areas.

Source: IANS