RANCHI, Feb. 24 -- The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led India bloc government of misusing the state police to influence voting in the state, even as the JMM patted the back of the state machinery for conducting a free and 'largely peaceful' polls.

Addressing a press conference, Jharkhand BJP chief Aditya Sahu alleged police were working in cooperation with the ruling parties to influence voters in several pockets of the state.

"The state government misused the police department to affect the polls. We had already raised apprehensions about it. Many voters were devoid of voting due to irrational change of polling booths. Due to no option of postal ballot, thousands could not e...