Madhya Pradesh polls: BJP minister booked for violating model code of conduct

oAn FIR has been registered against Madhya Pradesh transport and revenue minister Govind Singh Rajput for violating the model code of conduct.

In a video clip that went viral, Rajput can be seen saying that he will pay Rs 25 lakh each to in-charges of polling booths if they manage to get more votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) than for the Indian National Congress.

An FIR against Rajput has been registered — under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — at Rahatgarh police station, in Sagar district, on the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The FIR has been registered on the basis of a report filed by the returning officer, Surkhi assembly seat, the constituency that Rajput is contesting from.

Sagar district collector and district election officer Deepak Arya said that a complaint in this regard was lodged before the ECI, the chief electoral officer of Madhya Pradesh and the district election officer.

Reacting to the developments, the Congress said that Rajput should be sacked from Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet. Congress leader and spokesperson Shobha Oza called for strict action to be taken against those BJP leaders who are involved in corruption.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Oza said, “Those who are thinking of winning elections on the strength of money should be immediately dismissed and prevented from contesting elections and his assets should be investigated. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia should also answer in this regard.”

Oza said the BJP is going to lose badly in Madhya Pradesh, and “That's why its leaders are giving various kinds of inducements to the public".

It is worth recalling here that powerful BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya was also caught on camera saying that he will award Rs 51,000 to the in-charge of a booth where the Congress would not get a single vote.

“Here a question also arises: Where did these BJP leaders get so much money to give to booth in-charges?” asked Oza.