New Delhi: The Election Commission must give an explanation as to why it announced the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat on separate dates, the Congress said on Thursday. The counting of votes will, however, be held on the same day, said Congress’s election in-charge in Gujarat Raghu Sharma at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.
Because of the delay in announcing election dates for Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party got time to take out rallies on official expenses and to misuse public resources to woo voters, Sharma further said.
He said, “Want to thank the Election Commission for announcing Gujarat polls finally, despite the BJP-led government’s pressure.” Sharma tore into Prime Minister Narendra for the collapse of a cable bridge over Machchhu river in Morbi district of Gujarat where over 141 people were killed. He said after the tragedy had struck the country, the Congress cancelled all political events, but the Prime Minister “went ahead with official programmes.”
According to Sharma, the Congress is working very hard in Gujarat and the results of the polls will be surprising. He made the statement at a press conference at the AICC headquarters.
Pawan Khera alleged that the Prime Minister had been given time to take part in ribbon-cutting ceremonies and that the people of Gujarat wanted a change. Khera said, “We are going into the polls with full confidence and will form the government.”
In a tweet, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that seven crore brothers and sisters in Gujarat consider only Congress as an option for change. He also spoke about the party’s election promises including LPG cylinder at Rs 500, free electricity up to 300 units, free treatment and medicines up to Rs 10 lakh and loan waiver up to Rs 3 lakh.
