Poll code ‘violations’: Cong seeks intervention of CEC

Addressing the media on Sunday,Congress spokesperson Kuldeep Rathaur said: “Since urban local body elections are being held on party symbols,we will ask the Central Election Commission to intervene. The party will submit a complaint and inform the CEC that the state commission has been reduced to a mere department following instructions of the government,instead of maintaining transparency and fairness in the election.”

Rathaur attacked the state poll commission for allowing the launch of free ambulance service during the elections. “The launch of free ambulances could have been held up for ten more days,but the state election commission granted permission to this in a questionable manner. The government launched the scheme to influence the voters,” he said.

In a statement issued later in the day,BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said the Congress was in the habit of criticising constitutional bodies. “Former chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s criticism of Central Election Commission for early announcement of Assembly election during 2007 had resulted in ouster of the Congress from power. This time too,people will give a befitting reply to the Congress in the polls,” he said.

Dutt said the Rs 33-crore free ambulance scheme had been launched after due permission of the state EC and was named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to honour his contribution to the state.