Cong protests against delay in Gujarat elections

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 16

A large number of Congress workers, under the leadership of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken, today staged a demonstration outside the office of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to protest against the delay in the declaration of dates for the Gujarat Assembly elections. The ECI has declared elections to the Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh.

Ajay Maken, accompanied by some senior leaders, presented a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti.

The protesters shouted slogans such as “Niyam mein herapheri kyon, Gujarat chunav mein deri kyon”, “Loktantra ka ho samman, Gujarat chunav ka ho elaan”, “Kanoon ka samman karo, Chunavon ka elaan karo”, “Gujarat ki janta jaag rahi hai, BJP chunav se bhag rahi hai”, “Modi haar se darta hai, Chunav ko aage karta hai”, etc.

Addressing the media, Maken said the Election Commission has intentionally delayed the Gujarat Assembly elections just to favour Narendra Modi. The government at the Centre was afraid of defeat after the Congress party’s thumping victory at the Gurdaspur parliamentary by-election and an assembly by-election in Kerala.

He said the Election Commission should immediately announce the dates for the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Maken said the Election Commission was delaying the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly elections for Modi to make tall and hollow promises to the people of Gujarat.