NEW DELHI: The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) election held on May 31 has come under a cloud, with allegations of bogus voting, multiple voting, ineffective use of indelible ink and other violations prompting demands for an independent inquiry and a halt on the declaration of results.In a representation sent to the Lieutenant Governor, chief minister and health minister, a group of doctors and social organisation Sankalp have alleged serious irregularities in the conduct of the election and sought intervention to safeguard the credibility of the statutory medical regulator.According to the complaint, several incidents allegedly occurred at the polling venue, including instances of repeated voting and concerns over indelible ink that could reportedly be removed with water. The representation claims that despite complaints, effective corrective measures were not visibly undertaken.The controversy assumes significance as the Delhi Medical Council had previously been dissolved amid concerns over governance and accountability. The fresh election was widely seen as an opportunity to restore confidence in the institution among thousands of registered medical practitioners in the capital.Dr Abhishek Garg, a candidate in the Delhi medical council election and founder of Sankalp, has been among those leading the demand for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities and has urged authorities to withhold the election results until the inquiry is completed.The representation also raises concerns over the alleged leakage and misuse of voter data. It claims that websites may have been created using such information and calls for an investigation into organised activities allegedly carried out by interested parties during the election process.Further allegations relate to the distribution of capped bottles and other materials that were allegedly intended to influence or lure voters. The complainants have sought a detailed inquiry into these claims and action against anyone found to have violated election rules, ethical standards or applicable laws.The memorandum notes that a case concerning alleged irregularities in the election process is already pending before the High Court and argues that, given the seriousness of the allegations, the matter warrants careful scrutiny by the competent authorities.Among the key demands are verification of voter identity records, polling data and voting logs, investigation into allegations of impersonation and bogus voting, examination of the effectiveness of indelible ink used during polling, and a detailed report from election authorities on complaints received and action taken.The representation has further urged authorities not to announce, finalise or give effect to the election results until an independent inquiry is completed and its findings acted upon.“The Delhi Medical Council must be founded upon the principles of ethics, accountability, transparency and public trust,” the representation states, warning that unresolved concerns could leave the legitimacy of the electoral outcome under question among sections of the medical fraternity.Returning Officer Dr Sushma Jain did not respond to repeated phone calls and a WhatsApp message seeking her response to the allegations till the time of publication.
