BJP accuses Rajasthan CM Gehlot of violating poll code over '7 guarantees' schemes, files complaint

BJP on Wednesday alleged that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has violated poll conduct with his announcement of "seven guarantees" and filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India. This came in connection with the state assembly election scheduled on November 25 in a single phase.

On October 27, Gehlot announced five guarantees for the people of Rajasthan, including a law on the Old Pension Scheme, buying cow dung, and providing a laptop or a tablet to government college students, if his government is reelected. Two 'guarantees' were already announced by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her public meeting.

Earlier in the day, the BJP delegation met with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Gupta and submitted a memorandum, stating that once the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect, the political parties are not supposed to make such announcements of schemes that can influence the common people as it is against the rules.

Notably, the Model Code of Conduct came into force in Rajasthan on October 9 after the Election Commission announced the date for the assembly elections.

In a statement, the BJP alleged that Gehlot's announcement was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and also falls under the category of 'Corrupt practices' under section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The party's intellectual cell convenor Rajendra Singh Shekhawat informed that Chief Minister Gehlot recently posted a message on social media about the seven guarantees of the Congress and asked people to register themselves to avail of the benefits of such schemes.

He alleged that luring the general public to register for such guarantee schemes was a criminal act and a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

This is against the rules and should be stopped immediately, Shekhawat said, adding that action should be taken against the Congress and its chief minister.  

The counting of votes of the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will take place on December 3, coinciding with the other four states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP won 73 seats in the 200-member house. Ashok Gehlot came to power with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.
 

(With PTI Inputs)