Cong complains against Modi govt for breach of poll code

The Gujarat Congress on Monday filed a complaint with the state Election Commission alleging that the Narendra Modi government has violated the model code of conduct for elections.

In a written complaint filed with Chief Election Officer Anita Karval, the Congress alleged that the state government breached the code of conduct by distributing booklets, which prominently display pictures of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel.

"It is a gross and blatant violation of the code as the booklets comprising pictures of chief minister and the minister were printed by the Narmada, water resources, water conservation and Kalpsar department of the state of Gujarat," Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

The Opposition party has also alleged that the booklets, distributed in all districts of Saurashtra region on October 12, "boasts" about the implementation of the Narmada Irrigation Project for the benefit of the region.

"The said booklets name a project 'Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana', whereby it was declared that the chief minister has now implemented the said scheme with the estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore," Doshi said.

"Though the booklets were printed by the government press at the cost of public exchequer, the same were distributed through the district units of the BJP. This is nothing but the use of governmental resources by the state BJP for its own propaganda," the spokesperson said.

Assembly polls will be held in Gujarat on December 13 and 17 and counting of votes on December 20.