BJP alleges misuse of official machinery in Uttaranchal

New Delhi, Dec 28: A delegation of Uttaranchal BJP, under the leadership of party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, today met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami to demand a probe into the alleged misuse of official machinery by Chief Minister N D Tiwari and his party to influence the voters.

The delegation, consisting of state BJP Chief Bhagat Singh Koshiari and party MP Maj Gen B C Khanduri, brought to the CEC's notice, the announcements of projects by the Chief Minister and other ministers of his cabinet, without any administrative or financial sanctions, only intended to derive people's support.

They urged the CEC to enforce the model code of conduct with immediate effect in the state.

The leaders urged the EC to dispatch a special team to the state to probe into ''large scale misuse of government machinery and the discretionary funds'' and to take appropriate action.

Their other demands include, transfer of officials staying put in one place beyond three years, putting an end to all 'manipulated transfers' and deployment of central forces to ensure free and fair polls.

They alleged that state Information Department was spending huge amounts on hoardings in the towns and villages of the state to help the ruling party ahead of elections. Foundation stones were being laid pressurising the departments to provide huge amounts on advertisements, they charged.

To a question on Parliament passing a Bill to change the name of the state to Uttarakhand, the BJP spokesman said everybody had understood the Congress 'game plan' of changing the name two months ahead of elections.

''Since the government could not deliver on development, it was changing the name to woo the voters. People have not forgotten about Mr Tiwari and the Congress opposing the creation of a separate state of Uttaranchal out of Uttar Pradesh,'' Mr Prasad said.

UNI