The Congress has accused the Raghubar Das government of trying to influence the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand.
Highlights
- Arrest warrants against 2 Congress, 1 JMM MLAs, ahead of RS polls
- Congress moves Election Commission against Jharkhand's BJP government
- Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi contesting from Jharkhand
The Congress has approached the Election Commission, accusing the ruling BJP in Jharkhand of using "money, muscle power and arm-twisting" tactics ahead of
today's Rajya Sabha election.
In a memorandum to the Commission, Congress alleged that "in its quest to influence
elections to the Rajya Sabha in Jharkhand, BJP and its leaders are using all kind of tactics - money, muscle power and arm-twisting methods."
It claimed that on the eve of polls, arrest warrants have been issued against two of its legislators which was "nothing but blatant misuse of power to implicate MLAs in cases pertaining to political in nature".
The Congress says the police have moved to arrest its legislators Devendra Singh and Nirmala Devi and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Chamra Linda and has asked the Commission to ensure that the MLAs are not prevented from voting.
Mr Linda was arrested this morning while the Congress leaders are yet to be picked up by the police.
In Jharkhand, a close contest is expected where a united opposition can upset the ruling BJP's calculations. But its first candidate and union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is sure of victory.
BJP has 43 legislators and enjoys the support of six members of its allies.
JMM chief Shibu Soren's son Basant is pitted against BJP's other candidate Mahesh Poddar. However, if Congress, with six members, Rashtriya Janata Dal and rest of the opposition come together and back the JMM candidate, Basant can look at victory.