Guj Cong complaints to SEC over BJP's TV, radio commercials

The Congress today moved the State Election Commission seeking immediate withdrawal of commercials on radio and television purportedly by the BJP, which it said is violation of the model code of conduct in force for forthcoming elections to local bodies.
In a written complaint to the election commission, the Congress alleged that various schemes for students, entrepreneurs and cancer patients mentioned in these ads are labelled as initiatives of BJP, which is not right.
"This is a violation of the model code of conduct under which you cannot lure voters by offering them financial help. This is termed as corrupt practice. Thus, we have filed a complaint with the SEC today to immediately stop the telecast of these ads," State unit Congress General Secretary Nishith Vyas stated in his complaint to SEC.

"The ads being aired on TV and radio claim that various schemes to help students and other citizens are floated by the BJP. Technically, these schemes are initiated by the state government and not by the party," he said.
Vyas termed the advertisements as an attempt to "lure" voters by offering them some kind of financial help.
"In one of the TV commercials, it is claimed that BJP is providing Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance to students. In another ad, cancer patients and entrepreneurs can be seen receiving financial help from Chief Minister Anandiben Patel," he said.

According to Doshi, the party received lesser number of

applications in the constituencies where the Congress has sitting MLAs.
"Congress has 54 sitting MLAs at present. The number of applications received from the constituencies where we have sitting MLAs, were three to four on an average. Since it has not yet been decided how many of the sitting legislators will be retained or not, the number of applicants from these seats are less," he said.
Doshi said, calling in early entries and finalising the list by December was the idea put forth by senior party leader Gurudas Kamat, who is in-charge of Gujarat Congress.
The highest number of applications were received from north Gujarat, which is a hotbed of Patel quota agitation led by young leader Hardik Patel, he added.

He further said that there was good response for the SC and ST reserved seats.
"Over 300 women party workers have also applied for the poll tickets," he said.
About the next step, he said, "Now the names will be cleared by the state unit and they will be sent to the AICC for final clearance.