Prasad urges EC to keep strict vigil on Congress candidates

Dehra Dun, Feb 6 (UNI) Apprehending foul play, BJP national spokesman and Uttarakhand-in-charge Ravi Shankar Prasad has urged the Election Commission to keep a strict vigil over the Congress candidates to Uttarakhand Assembly elections.

''Incidents of bribing, distribution of cash and sarees secretly by Congress leaders in their constituencies have come to light,'' he told reporters here today.

Referring to the decision of Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari not to contest the February 21 polls, Mr Prasad said the leader on whose achievements the Congress was asking for votes, ''is himself missing from the battlefield.'' Without mentioning the name of Mr Tiwari, the BJP leader said, ''Now the Congress in the state is left captainlesss as the person at the helm of affairs, finding the party a sinking ship, has abandoned it.'' He alleged that no development took place in the Congress rule adding, the party failed to keep its poll promises and failed on various fronts including, law and order and corruption.

When asked about rechristening the state to Uttarakhand, Mr Prasad said it was a mere ''election stunt''. ''Congress is left with no other issue,'' he said Mr Prasad expressed satisfaction with his party's campaign for the Assembly polls and said almost all rebel candidates have withdrawn nominations.

When asked who will be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, the senior party leader said the issue would be decided by the Central Parliamentary Board.

He claimed, if voted to power, the BJP will provide the people with an honest, stable and pro-people government.

UNI