 "Tharoor called meeting of Christian pastors at home: LDF")
The LDF has accused Union Minister and Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor of attempting to garner votes by calling a meeting of pastors of a particular Christian denomination at his apartment here.
LDF leaders M Vijayakumar and Ramachandran Nair told a press meet here today that they had lodged a complaint with Election Commission seeking action against Tharoor.
A pro-Left television channel also aired an audio tape in which Tharoor purportedly urged the pastors to not only to pray for him but also persuade their followers to vote for him in some segments in the constituency where their adherents have strength.
They alleged that Tharoor also wanted the pastors to tell their followers that charges levelled against him by opponents in connection with his wife Sunanda Pushakar's death were baseless and he was totally innocent.
Tharoor was not immediately available for his reaction to the allegation.
The LDF leaders said this was a serious violation of election rules and they expected the Election Commission would inquire into it and take suitable action.
This also exposed that Tharoor was facing defeat and he was desperately trying to reverse the trend by making communal appeal, the LDF leaders said.
Tharoor is making his second consecutive bid to the Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram, where his principal opponents are CPI's Bennet Abraham and O Rajagopal of the BJP.
LDF leaders M Vijayakumar and Ramachandran Nair told a press meet here today that they had lodged a complaint with Election Commission seeking action against Tharoor.
A pro-Left television channel also aired an audio tape in which Tharoor purportedly urged the pastors to not only to pray for him but also persuade their followers to vote for him in some segments in the constituency where their adherents have strength.
They alleged that Tharoor also wanted the pastors to tell their followers that charges levelled against him by opponents in connection with his wife Sunanda Pushakar's death were baseless and he was totally innocent.
Tharoor was not immediately available for his reaction to the allegation.
The LDF leaders said this was a serious violation of election rules and they expected the Election Commission would inquire into it and take suitable action.
This also exposed that Tharoor was facing defeat and he was desperately trying to reverse the trend by making communal appeal, the LDF leaders said.
Tharoor is making his second consecutive bid to the Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram, where his principal opponents are CPI's Bennet Abraham and O Rajagopal of the BJP.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%