'EC must do something': Congress complains against Shah, Assam CM

New Delhi: A delegation of senior Congress leaders on Wednesday filed a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon on October 16.

"We have raised eight complaints with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Other three Elections Commissioners were also present," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said while addressing a press conference

The delegation included Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, AICC State In-Charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakre, MP & President Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Revanth Reddy, MP Uttam Kumar Reddy and Bhatti Vikramarka, MLA & CLP Leader (Telangana Legislative Assembly).

The Congress leaders filed a memorandum to the Election Commission saying that statements and claims made by the Home Minister were blatant and deliberate acts in violation of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Representation of People Act, 1951.

“Election Commission must do something to stop muddying of elections by political parties. We hope that the Election Commission will intervene to ensure free and fair elections in the country,” Salman Khurshid said.

The congress delegation led by Ramesh met the Chief Election Commissioner and presented detailed complaints and memoranda in relation to the upcoming state elections in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh.

They also raised a complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s election speech in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha on October 18.

In the memorandum, the Congress leaders said that his statements and claims highlight the clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another.

They also filed complaints stating that the Centre is trying to politicise the conduct of civil servants and army soldiers and violating the Model Code of Conduct and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

They also sought the disqualification of Govind Singh Rajput, BJP Candidate from Surkhi, Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh from contesting the assembly elections.

"Rajput had publicly claimed that he would pay Rs 25 Lakhs to the prabharis of booths where the maximum number of votes will be secured for the BJP. A FIR has already been registered against Govind Singh Rajput," they submitted in their complaint to the Commission.

Talking about four complaints -- in the context of Telangana -- Revanth Reddy said that the elections have probably become the most corrupt since the BRS government has come to power in Telangana.

The delegation has requested for disbursement of benefits under schemes introduced by the Telangana government either before the date of filing nominations on November 3 or after the polling of votes on November 30.

They also complained against "unlawful" transfers and posting of police officers in Telangana, who have been transferred without completing two and a half years of their tenure as mandated by the Election Commission.

The delegation also complained against the allotment of election duty to specific officers in Telangana, alleging that they publicly support "a specific political party."