Sinking BJP resorting to offering freebies to stay poll relevant, says JD(U)

Janata Dal United JD(U) spokesperson and former diplomat Pawan Verma on Wednesday described the Bharatiya Janata Party unit in Bihar as a sinking political ship that was offering freebies to the people of the state to stay poll relevant.

He was responding to the filing of a case against Sushil Modi, the president of the Bihar unit of the BJP for trying lure voters by promising them free laptops, colour TVs and sarees during his public address ahead of the state assembly polls.

"An FIR was lodged against Modi on the charge of alluring voters on Monday at his public meeting in Bhabhua, the district headquarters of Kaimur," a district police official said.

Modi, who was Bihar's former deputy chief minister, had reportedly promised the freebies during his public rally at Bhabhua.

"Sushil Modi is resorting to such tactics, because he knows the desperate condition in which the BJP is in Bihar today, and therefore, is deliberately utilising every means available in order to somehow, save their electoral ship from sinking. This kind of action by Sushil Modi is direct evidence of both the sinking fortunes of the BJP and a clear and direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct," Verma told ANI.

"What Sushil Modi is doing is an open violation of Model Code of Conduct. To lure the illiterate by blatantly giving away laptops and other gifts; it doesn't even need an enquiry. It is a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct. There is verifiable evidence; the Election Commission should take action," he added.

Elections in Bihar to elect the 243-member assembly will be held in five stages between October 12 and November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.