Praful Patel accused of using Narendra Modi pic for campaign

After the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), it is the turn of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from Bhandara, Union minister Praful Patel, to be accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the photograph its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, to further his end.

BJP state campaign in-charge Shrikant Bhartiya met chief electoral officer Nitin Gadre and registered a complaint against Patel for misusing the photo of Modi. The photograph, which has been printed in `Vikasnama' Patel's campaign book, shows Modi talking to Patel and having a hearty laugh at a function.

"I was told by one of the booth-in-charge in Bhandara Lok Sabha constituency that a campaign book carrying a photograph of Modi was doing the rounds. And that NCP activists were distributing the book. I was shocked to hear this," said Bhartiya.

"Many candidates are using the photo of Modi for their benefit; it is highly objectionable. Surprisingly, even the electoral officer said there was no rule preventing candidates from using the photograph of another leader in his/her campaign material. So what do we do now. In any case, the chief electoral officer has asked us to forward the complaint to the Election Commission in Delhi," Bhartiya added.

Praful Patel has defended Narendra Modi earlier, saying, "If the judicial system has given any pronouncement (on case involving Modi related to the 2002 Gujarat riots) I think we ought to respect it. There's no point in commenting on such matters, because it is for each one to give his/her version, but the fact remains that today's perception is important. If the judicial system has given a certain finality to any controversy, I think we should let it rest there."