File photo of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
An audio clip believed to be of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has gone viral on WhatsApp and has been brought to the Election Commission's notice as a serious violation ahead of a by-election on Saturday. Mr Chouhan is heard promising, in an alleged phone conversation, to "take good care" of a BJP leader if he supports the party candidate even though he was passed over.
"The ticket is done now...I will take care of you, but just make sure that we win," says the voice purported to be that of the Chief Minister in the three-minute clip. On the other end is a BJP leader who is apparently disgruntled after being denied a ticket to contest, and is seen as a threat to the campaign.
The three-time chief minister assures: "
Bana doonga tumhe (I will make you)." The Congress alleges that he was promising a government position.
Mr Chouhan seems to tell his party leader, Rajesh Choudhary, to campaign as if it were his own election. "After the election I will make sure you are in a better situation than now. Just don't spare any effort to win in the next three days," he says, urging him to mobilise others of his caste "Bodhwal Samaj."
Mr Choudhary replies: "Don't worry, we won't spare any effort."
The by-election is taking place tomorrow at the Garoth assembly seat, which fell vacant following the death of a legislator. Rajesh Choudhary was believed to be a shoo-in but another leader was named the BJP candidate.
After the call recording went viral, the Congress candidate complained to the police that Mr Chouhan had offered an "inducement" for votes. The BJP says the audio clip is fake.
"The Election Commission should examine the audio tape. This is BJP's style of functioning, this is how it cooks up votes," senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said.