The principle political parties of the country — Congress and the BJP — on Monday approached the Election Commission (EC) with different sets of concerns, interestingly not aimed at each other.

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While the Congress complained to the EC, alleging discrepancies in the voters list in Madhya Pradesh ahead of bye-elections in the state, BJP approached the EC to inform about Biju Janata Dal (BJD) using government authorities and large sums of money for their benefits to win by-polls in Odisha's Bijepur.

A delegation of Congress leaders Mohan Prakash, Randeep Surjewala, RPN Singh and Satyavrat Chaturvedi alleged misuse of official machinery by the BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh.

Surjewala said, "A desperate BJP is murdering democracy." He also alleged 'massive' discrepancies in the voter list. The Congress also handed over what they claimed was 'proof', demanding immediate action.

Meanwhile, a BJP delegation, led by national general secretary in-charge of Odisha, Arun Singh and party spokesperson Sambit Patra, met the EC. Patra said, "BJD is using government authorities and large sums of money for their benefits. The EC officials said that they will look into the matter."

Patra added that the party had put forward various issues in the meeting. "First, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Odisha's Padampur is harassing BJP workers, and second, Rs 40 lakh was seized in Bijepur constituency and without any investigation the police officer sent a report to the Superintendent of Police (SP), which he sent to the EC and hinted the matter on BJP," Patra claimed.