The EC has asked the Gujarat Chief Secretary to respond to the allegations by 5 pm on Monday (July 31). It also directed the state government to ensure proper security to all MLAs and their family members.
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday sought an inquiry report from the Chief Secretary of Gujarat shortly after a delegation of Congress leaders submitted a memorandum accusing BJP of "engineering" defection of its MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections.
The EC has asked the Gujarat Chief Secretary to respond to the allegations by 5 pm on Monday (July 31). It also directed the state government to ensure proper security to all MLAs and their family members.
The action comes in the backdrop of a delegation comprising Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Manish Tewari, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vivek Tankha petitioning the poll panel.
Meanwhile, it is rumoured that the Congress may shift its flock of 44 MLAs from Gujarat, now put up in a Bengaluru resort, to sequestered resorts in Kerala or Tamil Nadu. Karnataka power minister DK Shivakumar's brother has been keeping a close watch on these MLAs even as they await Shivakumar's arrival from Singapore.
Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections slated on August 8, Congress sent an SOS to the poll panel raising concerns over the corrupt tactics the BJP was employing to influence the elections. The delegation said the BJP was poaching their MLAs using money and strong-arm tactics in a bid to affect Ahmed Patel's chances to get reelected from Gujarat.
Congress said at least three MLAs were approached and offered money and that official machinery was being used to facilitate horse-trading.
In their complaint, Punabhai Gamit, Mangalbhai Gamit and Ishwarbhai Patel said the BJP and its agents had approached them. "The BJP is indulging in the murder of democracy. The way they are threatening our legislators is unconstitutional. First they threatened our MLAs and now they are threatening their families," alleged Manish Tewari after meeting officials of the ECI.
The developments come a day after the Congress created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha forcing the house to adjourn four times. Azad had led the contingent of leaders in the well of the House and shouted anti-BJP slogans forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to take action.
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