BJP Latur candidate, Maha minister violated poll code: Cong

The Congress Thursday accused BJP candidate from Latur, Sudhakar Shrungare, and Maharashtra minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar of violating the model code of conduct by allegedly trying to allure voters while polling was underway.

It has demanded that the Election Commission (EC) cancel candidature of Shrungare and file case against Patil for violating the code of conduct.

Latur was among the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polling was held Thursday.

According to a Congress statement, while polling was on, Shrungare spoke to Patil Nilangekar over mobile phone with its speaker on about people not casting their votes as they had not received money under the government's crop insurance scheme.

"Then the minister assured he would speak to district collector and tehsildar about it and give the insurance money. To allure voters while polling is on is violation of the model code of conduct," Maharashtra Congress general secretary Abhijit Sapkal alleged in the statement.

"Therefore, the Election Commission should act against Patil Nilangekar and Shrungare," he demanded.

The Congress also circulated a video clip that shows Shrungare purportedly speaking to Patil Nilangekar over phone about the crop insurance money in presence of people.