The BJP on Sunday moved the Election Commission over remarks by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav asking voters to accept money from other parties but to cast their ballot for the Samajwadi Party.
State BJP vice-president JPS Rathore, in a complaint letter sent to the chief election commissioner, accused Akhilesh of violating the model code of conduct, UP BJP spokesperson Manoj Mishra said.
Earlier on Sunday, the BJP lashed out at Yadav for “hurting” the dignity of the chief minister’s post by making a “frivolous” statement that voters should accept money from other parties but cast their ballot for the SP.
On Saturday in Bhadohi, the UP CM and SP national president asked voters to accept money from other parties, but vote for the bicycle symbol of the Samajwadi Party.
“I (have) heard that voters are being given money. My advice to you is to keep the money with yourself and vote for the bicycle,” Akhilesh had said.
Mishra further mentioned another statement of the UP CM made by him in Lucknow, where he had reportedly told mediapersons, “My journalist friends, please cooperate with me during the elections. Later, I will reward you.”
{{/usCountry}}Mishra further mentioned another statement of the UP CM made by him in Lucknow, where he had reportedly told mediapersons, “My journalist friends, please cooperate with me during the elections. Later, I will reward you.”
{{/usCountry}}The BJP spokesperson said that the statement given by Akhilesh indicates that he has already accepted defeat and has started talking about “monetary transactions” (‘Len-Den’ in Hindi).
Earlier, defence minister Manohar Parrikar had been let off with a light rap by the Election Commission when he made a similar remark that he had no problem with people accepting money from other parties to attend their rallies but that they should vote for the BJP.
The EC had also directed registration of an FIR against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for asking voters in Goa to accept money from other parties, but vote for the AAP which was testing its popularity in the coastal state.