MP elections: CM Chouhan to file defamation case against Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking MP CM over charges of corruption in the poll-bound state

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on October 29 said that he will be filing criminal defamation charges against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for levelling charges of corruption against him and his family in an election rally in Jhabua.

Chouhan in his tweet said, "Mr Rahul Gandhi you have been making patently false allegations of Vyapam to Panama papers against me and my family...I am filing a criminal defamation suit for maximum damages against you for frivolous and malafide statements."

However, referring to Chouhan, Rahul Gandhi today gave an explanation over his statements and said that he was confused because of the rampant corruption in the Bharatiya Jananta Party (BJP). 

Gandhi tweeted,"BJP mein itna brashtachaar hai ki main kal confuse ho gaya tha. Madhya Pradesh ke CM ne Panama nahi kiya unhone to e-tendering aur vyapam scam kiye hain. (There is so much corruption in the BJP that I got confused. MP CM has not done Panama scam, instead was involved in e-tendering and vyapam scam." 

Addressing election rally in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi said,"Udhar Chowkidar, Idhar Mamaji. Mamaji ke jo bete hai, Panama Papers mein unka naam nikalta hai (On one side, you have the watchman, on the other side you have 'mamaji'. The name of the son of 'mamaji' entails in Panama Papers)."

Gandhi did not directly name CM's name but was possibly  targeting Chouhan as he is popularly known as "mamaji"

Gandhi further said,"Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan ke Prime Minister ka naam nikalta hai...Pakistan jaise desh mein unko jail mein daal dete hai. Magar yahan ke Chief Minister ka beta, uska naam Panama papers mein nikalta haitoh koi karyawai nahi hoti. ( In a country like Pakistan, former PM Nawaz Sharif name when appeared on Panama scam was jailed. But, here son of CM of Madhya Pradesh's name figures in Panama Papers no action is taken against him."

Congress President in a slew of verbal attack against Chouhan in the poll-bound MP alleged that, "Rampant corruption takes place in the state (MP) under the Chief Ministership of Chouhan including Vyapam, e-tendering and Mahakumbh mela." 

The assembly election in Madhya Pradesh is slated on November 28. In a 230 members seat, currently BJP holds 165 seats, while the Congress has 58 seats. The congress aims to unseat the BJP which has been in power in the state for 15 years.