Congress accuses EC of giving undue advantage to BJP
Congress workers and supporters in Delhi on October 17 staged a demonstration outside the Election Commission of India office against the delay in the announcement for Gujarat polls.
The protest was held under the leadership of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Maken.
Ajay Maken, along with senior leaders in the party has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti asking, "Since 1998 (except in 2002-2003 due to riots in Gujarat) elections in both the states, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, have been held together. With th exception of 2002-2003 - soon after the Godhra riots - when the Gujarat Assembly was dissolved prematurely, the ECI has been announcing polls simultaneously in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. We wonder why has the ECI in deviation from its usual practice, has adopted special approach to not declare the Gujarat Elections along with the announcement of Himachal Pradesh Elections,?"
In the memorandum, Ajay Maken also demanded, "The onus lies on the EC to ensure level playing field by announcing Gujarat Election dates and imposing the model code of conduct immediately,"
Slogans such as "Niyam mein herapheri kyon, Gujarat chunav mein deri kyon", "Loktantra ka ho samman, Gujarat chunav ka ho elaan", "Kanoon ka samman karo, Chunavon ka elaan karo", "Gujarat ki janta jaag rahi hai, BJP chunav se bhag rahi hai", "Modi haar se darta hai, Chunav ko aage karta hai", were raised in the protest.
The Congress accused the EC of giving undue advantage to the BJP ahead of the Gujarat polls, so that the BJP gets ample time to "Influence the people of Gujarat by their false promises,"
OneIndia News