Veteran Congress leader and former finance minister, P Chidambaram, on Friday took a potshot at the country’s Election Commission for not announcing the dates for Gujarat elections. Taking to Twitter Chidambaram sarcastically wrote that the EC had “authorised” Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the dates at his last rally, after all “freebies” for the state were doled out.
He wrote, “EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed).”
EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed).
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 20, 2017
The former finance and home minister also claimed the Election Commission will be “recalled” from its “extended holiday” after the Gujarat government has announced all “concessions and freebies”.
His tweet read, “EC will be recalled from its extended holiday after Gujarat Govt has announced all concessions and freebies.”
EC will be recalled from its extended holiday after Gujarat Govt has announced all concessions and freebies.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 20, 2017
The EC had on 12 October had announced that polling for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will take place on 9 November, but refused to announce dates for Gujarat polls. Even though Chief Election Commission Achal Kumar Joti said that the counting for both the states will be held on 18 December.
The Congress had alleged that the government put “pressure” on the poll panel to “delay” the announcement of Gujarat assembly poll schedule to enable the prime minister to act as a “false santa claus” and offer sops, use “jumlas” (rhetoric) during his October 16 visit to his home state.
The model code of conduct would have come into immediate effect in Gujarat had the poll schedule been announced along with Himachal Pradesh, the party had said.
The BJP is facing growing anger in Gujarat, where the saffron party has governed for 22 years in a row. The party is desperately trying to woo the voters fearing unfavourable results in this year’s elections. Congress has suddenly intensified its game by going jugular against the ruling party.
Its latest campaign ‘development gone crazy’ appears to have put the BJP on the backfoot with its national president Amit Shah warning supporters not to pay heed to social media campaign by its rivals.