A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met the Election Commission in Delhi on Wednesday and requested the poll body to take legal action against Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Kamal Nath for allegedly violating model code of conduct by inciting religious sentiments to appeal for votes.
The delegation also accused the Congress Party of bribing voters ahead of the elections.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that several issues pertaining to the breach of the model code of conduct by the Congress were raised. "The Congress 'secularism-tactic' is creating division in the society for electoral gain and violates Section 125 of the Representation of People the Act, 1951," he added.
Naqvi further claimed that Kamal Nath allegedly appealing Muslim voters to come together and vote for the Congress was a "criminal act."
"We told the Election Commission this is a criminal act, and that the Congress and its President (Rahul Gandhi) should be probed. These are also grounds on which the registration of the Congress party can be cancelled," he argued.
Accusing the Congress of bribing voters, Naqvi said, "If any political party makes an announcement ahead of elections, it should be in the party's election manifesto, but without mentioning it in Manifesto, the Congress talks about regularising Anganwadi workers and waiving off loans of self-help groups. This is an attempt to bribe a certain section of voters."
The Union Minister also accused the Congress of using paid news to influence the polls. "After the announcement of election dates till the completion of the polling, no exit poll can be carried by media, but the Congress party breached this and through paid news showed exit polls predicting victory. This is a breach of the model code of conduct. We have raised all these issues and demanded immediate probe," he added.
Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 in a single-phase, and results will be declared on December 11.
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