By IANS,
Raipur : Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday said it has complained to the Election Commission about Congress leader Ajit Jogi distributing cash to voters at an election rally in Bastar, where Lok Sabha by-poll will be held Sunday (May 8).
“Jogi had distributed gifts to women, besides paying Rs.100 in cash to many people at an election rally at Bacheli (in Dantewada district) on April 27. I have a CD of the whole cash distribution episode,” BJP leader and Panchayat Minister Ramvichar Netam said at a hurriedly convened press conference at Jagdalpur, headquarters of Bastar region.
Meanwhile, a press statement issued by the BJP state unit here claimed that the party has written a complaint to the Election Commission against the former chief minister, saying such cash distribution was a clear violation of law.
“The party has provided a CD to the commission of the cash distribution by Jogi. We demand a criminal case be registered against him under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the party statement said.
However, the Congress has refuted the charges.
“It’s all baseless. The BJP is targeting Jogi as the party is finding tough to retain the seat,” state Congress spokesperson Ramesh Varlyani told IANS.
The by-poll for the Scheduled Tribe reserved Bastar seat was necessitated after the death of veteran BJP tribal leader and MP Baliram Kashyap in March. There are eight candidates in the fray, but the main contest is between the BJP and the Congress.