Punjab Cong alleges code violation by Shekhawat

Chandigarh, July 18 (UNI) Taking strong exception to Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the NDA-backed independent presidential candidate ringing up Punjab Congress MLAs to solicit their vote and support, Leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today alleged that this was a clear violation of the code of conduct as the telephone calls were made from the Vice-President's office.

'' We have informed the Union Parliamentary Affairs minister and accordingly will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) for action'', Mrs Bhattal said while addressing a media conference along with Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni at her residence here today.

Claiming that Mr Shekhawat had made calls from his official telephone, Mrs Bhattal said this was violative of the code of conduct for the presidential poll. '' As Vice-President he (Shekhawat) is misusing official machinery by making calls from his office,'' she added and even gave one of the many numbers from where the calls were made to a number of Congress legislators.

Agreeing with Mrs Bhattal, Ms Soni said ''one could make calls from private telephones or can even send letters addressed to the members of the electoral college, but using the official phone for this purpose was a clear violation of the code of conduct. '' In fact a number of senior NDA leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr L K Advani and George Fernandes had sent letters to the members of the electoral college in support of their candidate, she said.

''The letters sent by the NDA leaders showed the utter frustration of the Shekhawat camp, Ms Soni quipped.

Referring to the telephone calls, Mrs Bhattal said ''our MLAs are not for sale.'' She said all Punjab Congress legislators will vote for the UPA candidate.

Mr Brahm Mohindra who was among the MLAs to receive the call claimed that the caller said that he was ringing up from the Vice President's office. '' When I protested and said that this was misuse of the Vice President's office, the telephone on the other side was disconnected,'' claimed.

However, later Mr Shekhawat used a private telephone to make a call to Mr Mohindra and solicit his support. Another MLA Randeep Sing Nabha claimed that the official phone of the Vice-President was used while making a call to him.

Earlier Mrs Bhattal presided over a meeting of the Congress MLAs to discuss the presidential poll to be held tomorrow. Former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh who returned from London on Sunday evening however could not attend the meeting due to his pre-occupation at Patiala.

UNI