Electoral rivalry in Raebareli turns violent

The electoral rivalry between local Congress leaders and their BJP rival Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had contested against former party president Sonia Gandhi in the latter's strong hold of Raebareli, turned violent on Tuesday after Congress MLA Aditi Singh was allegedly attacked by Dinesh's supporters.

According to police sources here, Aditi Singh was on way to Raebareli to take part in the voting on the no-confidence motion against the district panchayat chairman Awadhesh Singh, who is Dinesh Singh's brother, when her vehicle came under attack near a toll plaza.

The MLA's car turned turtle when the driver tried to speed away. Aditi suffered injuries and was admitted to a hospital, sources said.

Dinesh's supporters also allegedly abducted a panchayat member Rakesh Awasthi, while he was on way to participate in the voting, sources said.

Aditi alleged that Awadhesh Singh's supporters carried firearms and tried to kill her.

"The local police did not take any action though I had informed them about the attack," she further alleged.

Tension prevailed in Raebareli town after several panchayat members were allegedly prevented from reaching the venue of the voting reportedly by Singh's supporters.

Several panchayat members had tabled a no-confidence motion against chairman Awadhesh Singh after his brother Dinesh Singh decided to contest against Sonia.

Dinesh Singh, a Congress MLC, had been an ex-aide of Sonia.

Police said that a case had been registered in this regard and investigations were on.