BJP complains to EC on Sonia's rally in Una

Shimla, Dec 13 (UNI) The BJP today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) on the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi's proposed rallies here and at Una town of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

Addressing mediapersons here, party's secretary H N Kashyap said while the Una DC had cancelled a domestic cricket match on Saturday to facilitate her public meeting there, the Shimla district was allowing Ms Gandhi to address a rally here on the historic Ridge Maidan in violation of the model code of conduct.

The party has also approached the EC on the extensions handed out by the present state Congress government to two officials in the PWD and health departments, he said.

Mr Kashyap said polling would not be possible in a fair and free atmosphere when these two important departments continue to be headed by S P Negi and M L Mahajan respectively.

Similarly, he said the party had also lodged a complaint with the poll panel against Bilaspur SP who was earlier in the CM's security.

''Since he is close to both the CM and Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur, who is contesting elections from Bilaspur, it will only be fair to have him removed from his present position,'' he added.

Seeking the deployment of para military forces in the state on December 19 on the day of polling, he said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was also the state's home minister, by way of heading the department would be in a position to influence the police and the home guard personnel.

Besides, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) should also remain in the custody of the para military forces to ensure any ambiguity over any malpractice, he said.

Mr Kashyap also questioned the Congress on its manifesto and said several of its promises had more to do with the central welfare schemes wherein the state had to chip in with a small proportion of funds.

UNI