MP LS polls: Nath seeks details of 'biased' govt officials

At a time when Lok Sabha elections are underway, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who also heads the state Congress unit, has written to the party office-bearers asking them to prepare lists of those government employees who they feel are "not unbiased".

Reacting angrily, the opposition BJP said that Nath writing letters to office-bearers of various districts amounted to the violation of the model code of conduct.

The party also said it would file a complaint with the Election Commission.

In the letter, which he has written in his capacity as the state president of the Congress, Nath has sought details about those government officials and employees who according to Congress leaders are "biased", to the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

The letter, dated April 29 and signed by Nath, is addressed to Congress candidates who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections and district presidents of the party.

"You know that the Lok Sabha-2019 election is being held in different phases. The EC has directed to conduct elections in an impartial manner. In the first phase of polls (on April 29), Congress workers have worked with dedication and diligence.

"You are being asked to submit details like names, posts and departments of those officials and employees who are careless and not unbiased during the poll duty, to the MPCC (Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee)," states the letter.

While six of the total 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh went to the polls in the first phase on April 29, the remaining 23 constituencies will vote on May 6, 12 and 19.

Reacting to Nath's letter, the BJP said he has started "threatening" officials after sensing defeat of the Congress in the first phase.

State BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said the move is a violation of the poll code.

"This is a clear violation of the model code of conduct. It is the responsibility of the EC to conduct elections in a free and fair manner, but the MP CM is trying to pressurise officers to make them work in favour of the ruling party," alleged Agrawal.

He said the BJP would file a complaint "against this threat being given to officials and employees posted on election duty".

"On the complaints made by the BJP, the EC has transferred a collector, three SPs while FIRs were filed against two ministers," he said without elaborating.

On the other hand, the Congress said there was nothing objectionable in Nath's letter.

"The BJP is creating a an unnecessary controversy. Nobody is being threatened in the letter but only details are sought about those officials and employees who are not contributing in holding a free and fair election but are supporting the one particular ideology," said Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja.