MP bypoll: Congress lodges complaint against BJP MLA with EC

A Congress delegation on Thursday met Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat and lodged a complaint against Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Bhind Narendra Singh Kushwaha for trying to influence the bypoll in Kolaras assembly constituency by distributing money.

The party also demanded that the SP and Collector should be removed from Shivpuri district and an FIR should be lodged against the BJP MLA.

"In Khatora, Kolaras today a vehicle with number plate MP-09 SR 1001 was caught with about Rs 1 crore in cash. The vehicle is registered in the name of BJP MLA from Bhind Narendra Singh Kushwaha's son.

"Congress workers called the police but they allowed the vehicle to escape with the money. After that Congress workers were lathicharged by the police in Khatora. Our candidate, Mahendra Yadav, was also injured. Section 144 has also been imposed," Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia told reporters after meeting the CEC at his residence late in the evening.

"Police barged into Yadav's house and started investigating them. They were being harassed. We have demanded that an FIR should be lodged against BJP MLA. The SP and Collector should be removed from Shivpuri. The police officer who helped in escaping should be suspended," he added.

"Bullets were also being fired at Congress workers from that car. Immediate action and probe must be ordered," Scindia said.

The bypolls in Mungaoli and Kolaras will be held on February 24 and the counting of votes would take place on February 28.

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, who accompanied Scindia, said: "Money is being distributed openly. Police are working as BJP workers and the administration too. BJP has already realised that they are going to lose the elections by huge margin."

"They are trying different ways like distributing money, our candidate Mahendra Yadav has been hit on his eye with a stick. He has also been detained," he said.

"We have submitted a memorandum to the CEC and have demanded that senior police officers should be removed from there. We want a peaceful election and it should be ensured. But, the BJP doesn't want a peaceful election. That's why they are resorting to these practices."

"The EC has said that he has sought a report and will take action based on that," he added.

--IANS

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