The EC has sought an enquiry report from the Chief Secretary of Gujarat by July 31 on allegations made in the memorandum submitted by Congress delegation. It has also directed the state government to ensure proper security to all MLAs and their family members.
The Election Commission (EC) today sought a report from the Gujarat government over Congress' allegation that the BJP was "engineering" defection of its MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. An EC spokesperson said the Gujarat Chief Secretary has been asked to furnish a report to the poll panel in this context by the evening (5 pm) of July 31. "The report has been sought on the allegation made in the memorandum submitted by the delegation of the Indian National Congress today (to the Commission)," the spokesperson said.
He added that the EC has also directed the state government to "ensure proper security to all the MLAs and their family members".
The poll watchdog's action came in the backdrop of the Congress party today petitioning it and demanding free and fair election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat as it accused the BJP of misuse of power and authority. A delegation of top Congress leaders met Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti and demanded setting up of a high-powered committee to enquire into charges of money power and muscle power and blatant abuse of government machinery to engineer defections and give a time-bound report.
They also handed over a memorandum against use of money and muscle power by the ruling BJP government in a bid to alter the Rajya Sabha poll result. "We demand to forthwith constitute a high powered committee of independent persons/officers to enquire into charges of money power, muscle power and blatant abuse of government machinery for purposes of engineering defection and resignations of INC MLAs. "To direct the high powered committee to afford opportunity to all the MLAs who have been approached directly and indirectly with inducements of money and positions by the BJP, so that the allegations are duly recorded and substantiated for actions in accordance with law," the memorandum demanded.
Congress Party's 44 MLAs has been sent to Bengaluru on Friday after the resignation of six MLAs in Gujarat.
Congress MLA Shailesh Parma told ANI, "To hide their failure, the saffron party is trying to make sure our MLAs resign by offering money and through police pressure."
Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora on Saturday claimed himself impartial saying he took resignation of the Congress MLAs in front of the whole media.
Speaking to ANI here, Vora said, "Which party resigned and for which party they are doing so, it's not my job to look into that. I took resignation in front of whole media. I am impartial and nobody has blamed me till date. All the 182 MLAs have given me the responsibility on the bases of my loyalty and I will live up to their expectations."
The Gujarat Assembly Speaker asserted that MLAs are free to go anywhere according to their will.
"I did my work with full dedication and commitment. I asked them whether they are giving resignation as per their will or not," he added.
The statement came after at least six Congress MLAs in Gujarat resigned from the party to join the BJP.
Accusing the ruling-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Gujarat of bribing and threatening their MLAs, the Congress on Saturday said whatever is happening in the state is a ‘murder of democracy’.
‘This is a murder of democracy in Gujarat. First the MLAs were being threatened. Now their families are also being meted out the same treatment. What kind of a democracy is this’ Such incidents never took place in the past,’ Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said after meeting the Election Commissioner.
Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also, reiterating similar sentiment, said the situation of Gujarat is very saddening.
‘The Congress leaders are being bribed and being forced by the administration to resign. We are known as the world’s greatest democracy and if in the prime minister’s own state, the ruling party is doing such things, I think, nothing is more saddening than this,’ Azad said.
Another Congress leader Anand Sharma said they way the Congress MLAs had to be taken out of the state is a black blot on the state government and the ruling party.
‘We will bring into the EC's notice how power, governance and the police are being misused. Money is being used openly in the state. There cannot be a greater violation. This is being done openly; it is an assault on the democracy - an open indulgence into corruption and violation of laws,’ he said.
‘How come a party that doesn't have enough MLAs to field a third candidate steals candidates from the Congress and presents that individual as the third candidate’’ Sharma asked.
The Congress has accused the BJP of horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, following which the grand old party MLAs left for Bengaluru late last night to escape succumbing to political and police pressure to join the BJP.
The Congress leaders, thereby, earlier in the day, met the Election Commission officials on the Gujarat MLAs issue.
Elections to the three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat are scheduled on August 8.
With inputs from PTI and ANI
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