Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said Congress is making such statements because they are scared
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Friday charged the Election Commission (EC) by saying it is working at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He alleged that by delaying the announcement of elections in Gujarat, EC has 'authorised' the PM to declare election dates after BJP doles out 'all concessions and freebies' in the state during its poll campaign.
The ruling BJP immediately responded by saying that the Congress was 'scared' and was looking for an excuse for the defeat staring at its face in Gujarat.
"EC will be recalled from its extended holiday after Gujarat government has announced all concessions and freebies," Chidambaram said in a rare criticism to the EC, a constitutional body. "EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed)," he tweeted.
Congress has officially accused EC of deviating from standard operating procedure by announcing election dates last week only in Himachal Pradesh and not in Gujarat though their assembly terms end only two weeks apart.
The Congress has alleged that the poll panel acted under pressure from the Central government led by the BJP. Congress linked it to PM Modi's visit to Gujarat earlier this week, when he held a rally in state capital Gandhinagar. The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold another rally on October 22 in Gujarat.
The BJP and the Gujarat government has dismissed the allegation. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the Congress "is scared of BJP and that is why P Chidambaram is giving such statements."
COUNTER-ATTACK
- Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said Congress is making such statements because they are scared.
- Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress is speaking from own experience of interfering with EC.
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