Congress enticing Rae Bareli voters with cash promise: BJP candidate

LUCKNOW: BJP’s Rae Bareli candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh on Tuesday alleged that Congress was violating the model code in the district by promising Rs 1 lakh to women in each family.

“Congress workers are going house-to-house in villages to hand over guarantee cards promising cash. They are making the voters sign these cards besides putting their signatures on it too. With these cross signatures, the election material becomes a legal document which is in violation of the model code of conduct, the Representations of the People’s Act, and the law settled by the Supreme Court,” Singh told reporters.

“Though everyone is aware that these guarantee cards hold no significance as the BJP is set to form the next govt, the act of enticing voters cannot be accepted,” Singh said.

Singh has also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India.

Similar complaints have been filed by BJP in other parts of the country. These complaints state that ‘MCC guidelines clearly specify that no political party can overlook the undesirable impact of the promises and offers made by it on the conduct of free and fair election and maintain a level playing field for all parties and candidates.’

Attacking Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi, Singh said: “Rahul keeps changing his roots. Yesterday he was calling Rae Bareli his home while a few days ago he told the same thing to people of Wayanad (the other seat from where he is contesting).” Some day he may call another city his home to suit his political needs, Singh added.

He also termed Rahul’s visit to a local barber shop on Monday a poll gimmick. “Who isn’t aware of their elitist choices and preferences… heading to a street side barber instead of his five-star saloon is nothing but a poll gimmick to attract attention,” he said.