Sonia, Shivraj should bear poll expense:Raghu

Gwalior, MP, May 1 (UNI) The Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) has demanded the poll expenditure for the byelection in Rae Bareli and Budhni should be recovered from the candidates or their parties for forcing byelections due to resignation.

A memorandum in this regard has been sent to President A P J Abdul Kalam, LSP President Raghu Thakur told reporters here today.

Mr Thakur said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had resigned from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat due to personal reasons. She is contesting the bypoll and if she gets re-elected the situation will be like before. However, public will be forced to bear a burden of Rs 3 crore.

Similarly, he said, Budhni assembly seat was vacated for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as he was seeking entry in the Vidhan Sabha. The EC will be forced to spend around Rs one crore for this bypoll.

UNI MKS-PS CH VV1740