The Congress on Monday, slammed the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for his political 'roadshow' during phase two voting for Gujarat elections.
Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said that Modi flouted the code of conduct while on his way to vote. “During the polling day, PM Modi did a roadshow of two and half hours while he went to cast his vote. Will appeal to EC against it, seems like Election Commission is willingly under pressure,” Khera said. The Congress questioned the Election Commission's "total silence and total inaction", NDTV reported.
Khera also mentioned that the party's tribal leader and MLA in Gujarat, Kanti Kharadi, had requested the EC for additional security due to a threat to his life, but the poll body did not respond. “He was attacked by 24 BJP goons, BJP also distributed liquor in Gujarat even though liquor is banned there, EC took no action on that either,” the Congress leader said.
Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also criticised Modi for the 'road show' on polling day. Slamming the EC, Mamata alleged PM's rally would “influence outcome”.
Modi exercised his democratic right at a polling station at Nishan High School in Ahmedabad on Monday. He walked to the polling station, greeting supporters who were cheering for him. His centenarian mother Hiraba also cast her vote at a polling station in Gandhinagar district. Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a municipal centre in Naranpura locality of Ahmedabad city.
The electoral fate of Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and 832 other candidates including 285 independents will be decided in the second phase. Besides the chief minister, BJP leaders Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor, and Congress leader Jignesh Mevani are among those in the fray in the second phase of polls.