Congress cries foul over Shekawat's 'phone call'

Gandhinagar, July 12 (UNI) Gujarat Congress today criticised Vice President and NDA backed independent Presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for calling one of its MLAs and asking for his vote in the presidential polls.

Talking to reporters here, Congress MLA from Kadi Baldevji Thakor, along with Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Arjun Modhwadia, said he received the call on his mobile at around 1235 hrs from Shekhawat, who urged him to cast his vote his favour.

Giving details, he said Mr Shekawat's number is 011-23022321.

Mr Thakor said Mr Shekawat told him ''I am Bhairon Singh Shekawat calling and am a presidential candidate. Please give me your support and vote.'' To which, he replied that I am a Congressman and will only vote for the official Congress candidate. Still, Mr Shekhawat requested me to vote for him saying, ''If I win, I will do your work which I am capable of.'' However, Mr Thakor could not elaborate what sort of work that Mr Shekhawat was referring to.

Mr Modhwadia said this was an open inducement to the party MLA.

''Phoning an MLA in this fashion is contrary to all norms and decency. The Central Election Commission should take appropriate action against Mr Shekhawat.'' When asked if he would take up this issue with Congress high command, Mr Modhwadia said ''Yes, certainly.'' He also accused the BJP of trying to influence Congress MLAs indirectly in the Presidential poll campaign and the Kadi incident was the first direct approach, he said.

Mr Modhwadia said ''what is objectionable is that Mr Shekhawat is now the Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha. If he wanted to contact any MLA, he should have first resigned from his post.

Coming down heavily on Mr Shekhawat's candidature, Mr Modhwadia alleged that Mr Shekhawat was suspended as a police constable for accepting bribe by the British authorities.

''I ask the BJP that under what grounds are you making him a Presidential candidate, who is barely educated unlike Pratibha Patil,'' he added.

UNI