New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday sought a report from the Chief Secretary of Gujarat by July 31, hours after Congress Party communicated to the poll panel that its MLAs were being "threatened and bribed" by the ruling BJP to join its ranks.
The ECI also directed the state government to ensure proper security to all the MLAs and their family members. Earlier in the day, a Congress delegation met Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti and demanded setting up of a high powered committee to enquire into charges of alleged electoral malpractices by the ruling party and to give a time-bound report.
The poll watchdog's action came in the backdrop of the Congress party on Saturday petitioning it and demanding free and fair election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat as it accused the BJP of misuse of power and authority.
The delegation handed over a memorandum against the use of money and muscle power by BJP state government in Gujarat to lure the Congress MLAs to alter the Rajya Sabha poll results.
"We demand to forthwith constitute a high powered committee of independent persons/officers to enquire into charges of money power, muscle power and blatant abuse of government machinery for purposes of engineering defection and resignations of INC MLAs.
"To direct the high powered committee to afford opportunity to all the MLAs who have been approached directly and indirectly with inducements of money and positions by the BJP, so that the allegations are duly recorded and substantiated for actions in accordance with law," the memorandum demanded.
The Congress delegation comprised of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and party's deputy leader Anand Sharma, Vivek K Tankha, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Manish Tewari.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday alleged that Gujarat government, led by BJP, was "intimidating bribing Congress MLAs" to join its ranks. Azad said that Congress had apprised Election Commission of India (ECI) of all the happenings in Gujarat.
"What is even more saddening is that this is happening in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Modi," Azad said, adding that he had asked the EC to remove all legislators who were threatening and kidnapping Congress MLAs.
Azad said the Centre and Gujarat government together are effecting defections of Congress MLAs in the wake of Rajya Sabha elections for the state and they are being threatened and lured through promises of tickets and money, and that the police and administration is being used for defections.
(With inputs from PTI)
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