Dholpur bypoll: Congress accuses CM Raje of violating model code of conduct

After the campaigning for Dholpur by-election was over, all congress leaders left the constituency while CM Raje stayed in the constituency which didn't go down well with the state congress.The party accused CM Vasundhara Raje of Violating election norms.

The Chief Minister's media advisors said she stayed in Dholpur on health grounds and the same was communicated to the election officer.

PCC president Sachin Pilot said, "Raje has violated the instructions which is very disappointing. All the Congress leaders left the constituency after the campaigning got over last evening but Raje stayed there to influence the voters."

"This is a violation of the code of conduct and against the sanctity of the chief ministerial post," he said.

Suggested Read | RK Nagar bypoll: War for late Jayalalithaa's bastion gets intense and ugly 

Election officer Suchi Tyagi said the chief minister stayed on health grounds.

"The chief minister stayed in Dholpur on the grounds of sickness. I have communicated to the election commission and waiting for further instructions from there," she said.

As per the instructions of the election commission, all political parties leaders have to leave a constituency if they are not a voter or a candidate or candidate's election agent after the campaigning ends.

BJP Dholpur district president Bahadur Singh said the chief minister suffered foot strain after she returned from campaigning yesterday and it was not possible for her to move therefore she stayed in Dholpur to take rest.

"Doctors advised her to not move so she is taking rest.All other leaders returned yesterday after the campaigning but the chief minister had to stay due to this problem and she is taking rest," Raje's media advisor said.

The by-election has been necessitated after the seat fell vacant on termination of the membership of B L Kushwah following conviction and life imprisonment in a murder case inDecember last year.

As many as 15 candidates, including 12 independents, are in the fray for the by-poll.

The BJP has fielded Kushwah's wife Shobha Rani while Congress candidate is a veteran leader and five-time MLA BanwariLal Sharma.

The SP has fielded Banvari Sharma. The seat will go to poll tomorrow and counting of votes will take place on April 13.