'Chidambaram violated election code of conduct'

Panaji, May 26: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said the Election Commission of India should initiate necessary action, taking cognisance of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's announcement yesterday of 'sops for infrastructure development in Goa' in violation of the model Code of Conduct.

Interacting wih mediapersons here, Mr Naidu said the Finance Minister had used the forum of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) yesterday as a political platform and announced the sops.

A delegation, led by party national spokesperson and in charge of Goa Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Goa BJP president Shripad Naik, has also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Chief Election Commissioner Gopalaswami, he said.

''If the campaign material, containing speeches of Manohar Parrikar in the Assembly, constituted a violation of the election code, then the statement of Mr Chidambaram, too, deserves the same treatment,'' he said.

Mr Naidu said the three-year-old UPA Government would face doom if it failed to initiate steps to improve the life of the common man through a ''roadmap with a course of correction and programmes''.

''Mere preaching will not help, but concrete steps are needed to improve the life of the common man through developmental programmes, particularly in rural areas, while striving for industrial growth,'' he said.

Mr Naidu further urged the Commission to curb ''muscle and money power'' and deploy adequate para-military forces to ensure free and fair Goa polls.

He also called for sealing the areas bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka to check smuggling of liquor to influence voters. The land mafias with vulgar display of money bags are also on the prowl, he said.

Congress candidates, particularly in sensitive areas like Taleigao, are distributing household goods in clear violation of the election code, he alleged.

Asked about the circular issued by the Church in Goa to the electorate, Mr Naidu said the BJP fights on the basis of its manifesto and achievements but not on religious lines.

The religious institutions should concentrate on social reforms and not dabble in politics, he added.

He denied that there was infighting in the BJP in the Taleigao constituency. Mr Naidu said if the BJP is returned to power, it will continue the developmental works initiated by the erstwhile Manohar Parrikar Government.

He said the BJP had been given too little time to continue its good work, before it fell with the machinations of the Centre and defectors in 2005. Otherwise, it would have successfully carried forward the developmental agenda in Goa, he said.

UNI