RS polls: BJP ''preventing'' Cong MLA from voting in MP

Indore, Mar 26 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh's Congress MLA Premchand Guddu today alleged that the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was stooping to mean tactics to prevent him from casting his vote for Rajya Sabha elections to three seats from this state.

''The BJP is adopting these tactics to ensure that all three of its candidates emerge victorious,'' he said in a statement issued here.

Voting is to take place on March 28 but the state Economic Offences Investigation Bureau has issued a notice under the Criminal Procedure Code's Section 160 to the legislator -- who represents Ratlam district's Aalot -- to appear as witness in its local office on that very day in a certain case.

The MLA wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Governor and the Returning Officer urging their intervention for ensuring that polls be impartial and also demanding action against Bureau officials.

''During the Assembly's budget session, I was summoned on February 29 -- the date on which my farmers-related call attention notice was scheduled,'' Mr Guddu said. A breach of privilege notice was served to the Bureau's Superintendent of Police in this regard.

Samajwadi Party legislator Kishor Samrite was served a legal notice on March 24 by the state's former advocate-general Vivek Krishna Tankha, who is also a Congress-supported independent candidate for the Upper House hustings, after the MLA alleged that he was paid a bribe of Rs 10 lakh to vote for Mr Tankha.

Mr Samrite wrote to the ECI today urging an inquiry into the SP whip, in the elections' context, cancellation of Mr Tankha's candidature and registering of a criminal case against him.

UNI Team-AC 1657