Uttarakhand BJP charges CM with poll code violation

The opposition BJP in Uttarakhand lodged a complaint with the election commission accusing chief minister Vijay Bahuguna of violating the model code of conduct to influence voters in favour of his son and the Congress nominee for Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll Saket Bahuguna.

State BJP chief Bishan Singh Chufal led a delegation to the chief election officer Radha Raturi here on Monday and alleged the recent announcement by the CM that each family would get 12 subsidised LPG cylinders in a year was made deliberately to brighten his son’s prospects in Tehri.

“It was a policy announcement made in violation of the model code of conduct to influence the electorate,” Chufal said in his complaint. The party has lodged several such complaints with the EC during campaigning for the high-profile seat accusing Bahuguna of misusing the government machinery to ensure Saket’s victory. Leader of the opposition  Ajay Bhatt had recently approached the EC charging the chief minister with announcing sops at his campaign meetings.

Congress list

The AICC on Tuesday announced two changes in the list of the Congress nominees for the November 4 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

While Khub Ram, who was earlier fielded from Karsog-SC seat, has now been fielded from Anni-SC Assembly seat replacing Ishwar Dass, Mansa Ram will replace Khub Ram at the Karsog-SC seat. Khub Ram has been contesting the Anni seat earlier too when he was a member of Sukh Ram-led Himachal Vikas Congress. Mansa Ram had switched over to the Congress from the BJP, after he lost the last  election.