Keep ministers out of constituency on by-poll day: Jogi

Kota, Nov 30 (UNI) Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has urged the Election Commission to ask Chhattisgarh ministers to remain out of Kota assembly constituency on the day for polling for by-election on December four.

Talking to UNI here, he said he had already brought to the notice of election commission that a dozen ministers were camping at various places within the constituency, misusing official machinery and police to threaten voters and Congress workers.

Alleging that government officers and employees were also under tremendous pressure to support the ruling party in the by-election, Mr Jogi said a free and fair election was not possible in a situation where a dozen ministers were calling the shots in the constituency.

Mr Jogi's wife Dr Renu is contesting her maiden election from Kota where she is pitted against Mr Bhupendra Singh Thakur (BJP) in a 23-cornered contest. By-election for the seat was necessitated following the death of Congress veteran Rajendra Prasad Shukla, who was the first speaker of the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly.

Alleging blatant misuse of police, the former chief minister alleged that Congress workers were being asked to keep themselves aloof from election campaign or to face criminal cases.

Mr Jogi said the commission had already directed deployment of five companies of central para-military forces following his demand.

However, these forces would not be sufficient in view of the situation prevailing in the constituency, he added.

The former chief minister alleged that BJP leaders were indulging in a mud-slinging campaign during electioneering and one of its MP had crossed all levels of decency by making certain unsavoury remarks against his late parents.

''Such behaviour is nothing but panic prevailing among BJP leaders about their impending defeat in the elections,'' he added.

UNI AS-JJ PS 1827