Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate SS Kler on Monday scoffed at Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his wife wearing scarves with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s election symbol and traveling from booth to booth. He was accused of violating the model code of conduct by campaigning in a convoy of more than a dozen vehicles.
Kler, who is contesting against Dhami from Khatima, said the violation of the model code of conduct by the couple was clearly visible from the pictures shared by the BJP on social media.
He said, “I will again file a complaint with the returning officer… The election rules forbid wearing the party’s symbol or displaying campaign material near polling stations. How can he walk in a convoy of more than a dozen vehicles? And can I campaign from booth to booth? On Sunday also I had filed a complaint against Dhami for campaigning in the area and distributing money among voters.”
Dhami’s media advisor Vishwas Doval denied the allegations. “Dhami is the chief minister. Wherever he goes, people gather around him. He is not campaigning. He is visiting polling booths like any other political leader,” he said.
Doval said such baseless allegations are being leveled as the BJP’s rivals have realized that they have no chance of winning the seat.
Returning Officer Ravindra Singh Bisht said a team was sent to investigate Kaler’s complaint, but it did not find anything like it. “With regard to the issue of Dhami and his wife casting their vote wearing the party’s emblem today, we will investigate the matter and take appropriate action,” he said.
On Sunday, there was a verbal fight between Dhami and Kler at Khatima. Kler alleged that Dhami was campaigning in violation of the model code of conduct with the help of the administration and police force.
He said, “The election campaign ended at 6 pm on Saturday… Even then Dhami was campaigning with administrative staff and media. I reached the spot and opposed his move, but the police misbehaved with my supporters. “
Kler said Dhami was in Sisaiah Banda area around noon on Sunday. He confronted Dhami accusing him of misusing his power and administrative machinery.
He added, “If he [धामी] Had he done development work and addressed the grievances of the public during his 10 years tenure as an MLA, he would not have needed these malpractices.”
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