New Delhi/Ahmedabad: Parties on Thursday hit out at the Election Commission for alleged “inaction” over the alleged poll code violation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat with the Congress accusing it of acting like a “captive puppet” of the BJP.
Leaders of the Congress and other Opposition parties also alleged that the Election Commission failed to uphold its constitutional mandate.
At the heart of the row was the objections raised by the Congress to what it called a “roadshow” by the Prime Minister when he greeted the crowd outside the polling booth in Ranip area in Ahmedabad after he cast his vote. The BJP in a vigorous response to the Congress charge said it was looking for excuses before its “impending defeat” in the Gujarat Assembly polls for which the final phase of voting ended on Thursday.
A BJP delegation, which included Cabinet ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi among others, met the Election Commission to refute the charges levelled by the Congress.
Nikunj Balar, convener of the Congress’ legal cell, said the party lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat against
Modi’s “roadshow”. In response to the complaint, Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat, B B Swain, said an inquiry has been ordered to probe whether there was any violation of the poll code.
Modi, arriving outside the poll booth set up inside Nishan High School in Ranip area, which is part of Sabarmati constituency, first greeted his elder brother Somabhai
Modi by bowing down. Then the Prime Minister stood in the queue to cast his vote. He was seen speaking to other voters while awaiting his turn.
After casting the vote, he showed his inked finger to thousands of supporters who had gathered outside and were chanting “Modi...Modi”.
The Prime Minister walked some distance to greet the people standing on both sides of the road. Then he stood on the footboard of his car and waved to the crowd.
