Congress moves EC over ‘misuse of official machinery’ by PM

NEW DELHI: A Congress delegation led by Abhishek Singhvi on Wednesday petitioned the Election Commission (EC), alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “misusing official machinery” for campaigning.
It also demanded that the Prime Minister be made to cancel his scheduled election rally in a neighborhood constituency on voting day for Damoh seat — May 6.

After meeting the EC authorities, Singhvi said his party had given details of how the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was using the Niti Aayog to reach out to some district administrations and Collectors.

The officials were gathering specific details of areas where Modi is scheduled to speak, so he can use that information in his speeches. “This is clearly a case of misuse of official machinery and thus, a violation of the code of conduct,” Singhvi said.

The Congress also protested Modi addressing a rally in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, on the day the neighbouring Damoh goes to polls. “The Prime Minister will be conducting his rally merely 10 km away… it has a very high potential of materially affecting the results of the elections being organised on the same day at a neighbouring constituency,” said Singhvi.