Gadkari demands CBI probe

Nagpur, Mar 10 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP President Nitin Gadkari today demanded a CBI probe into the Tasgaon episode, where a repoll was ordered in 12 constituencies after an FIR was filed by a Shiv Sena candidate against Deputy chief minister R R Patil.

The candidate later retracted his statement and said three BJP candidates had forced him to file the complaint against Mr Patil.

Mr Gadkari told newsmen here that ''Mr Patil is the Home minster.

Therefore, how can the Tasgaon police investigate the matter independently. Authorities in Tasgaon are bound to be influenced and therefore, a CBI probe is necessary in this case.'' Mr Gadkari said the BJP would raise the issue during the budget session of the state legislature and demand resignation of Mr Patil on the first day itself.

Referring to the issue of how Mr Patil reportedly forced the candidates into withdrawing from the fray, Mr Gadkari said only 12 aspirants had withdrawn from the Tasgaon ZP seat by 2.59 hours. But by 1500 hours, 131 candidates had withdrawn. This simply means that 119 candidates withdrew in one minute. This clearly speaks volumes about how the candidates would have been forced to back out from the contest.

Mr Gadkari said he was satisfied with the action initiated in this regard by the State Election Commission, adding, ''We will move the Chief Election Commissioner also seeking action in the matter.'' UNI