Jharkhand bypoll: Congress accuses BJP chief of violating model code

Ranchi: JP Nadda, the BJP president was accused by the comgress of violating the model code of conduct by "canvassing" for his party's Mandar bypoll nominee at a tribal rally, which was a "non-electoral" event. The party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission for the same.

On Sunday, Mr Nadda while addressing the 'Dharti Aba Birsa Munda Vishwas' rally that happened at Ranchi's Morabadi ground attacked the JMM-led coalition. He also urged the people to oust the dispensation as it was headed, according to him, by a person that has become "synonymous with corruption".

Rajiv Rajan, Congress spokesperson spoke to reporters on Monday, after lodging a complaint against Nadda with the office of the chief electoral officer and said, "The BJP organised the tribal rally when the nomination process for the bypoll is underway. The appeal made by the BJP national president in favour of his party's candidate was a violation of model code of conduct".

Congress, as a part of the ruling coalition should know whether the BJP had sought permission from the CEO's office to hold the program which was a "non-electoral" event, he added.

Gangotri Kujur was the BJP candidate for the by-election while Congress fielded former MLA Bandhu Tirkey's daughter Shilpi Neha Tirkey, according to NDTV.

This election was required after the disqualification of Bandhu Tirkey as a member of the Jharkhand assembly on April 8 based on a verdict given by a special CBI court. The former minister in the state government, Mr Tirkey was sentenced to three years in jail in a corruption case by special CBI court on March 28.

In the nomination process that ended on Monday, 19 candidates filed their nomination papers whose documents will be sent for scrutiny on Tuesday. The bypoll will be held on June 23 and votes will be counted on June 26.