Cong accuses BJP’s Patan candidate of bribing voters

All the photographs saved in a CD have been sent to Gujarat Chief Election Officer Anita Karwal as also the Election Commission of India,seeking immediate action against the BJP leader for violating the Model Code of Conduct. Rathod,a former Congress MLA,had recently quit the party and joined the BJP. Rathod could not be contacted,while his son Kishor said there was a custom under which villagers welcomed the visitors by beating drums and the latter distributed money as per the local tradition.

“This can’t be termed as bribing voters,” he said,charging the local media and the Congress of looking for every opportunity to defame his father. “It is a farce,” he said.

On his part,Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said that no one could violate electoral rules on the pretext of customs and traditions.