EC must explain why it announced polls for Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat on separate dates: Congress

The Congress has alleged that the BJP got time to hold several rallies on official expense and misused public resources to the hilt in Gujarat

The Congress on Thursday said the Election Commission must give an explanation to the people of the country as to why it announced the polls to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assemblies on separate dates even though the votes for both would be counted on the same day. 

Congress’ Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma alleged that the BJP got time to hold several rallies on official expense and misused public resources to the hilt in Gujarat.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, he said, “Want to thank Election Commission for announcing Gujarat polls finally despite BJP-led government’s pressure.”

“The Election Commission should give an explanation as a constitutional body that while counting of votes for elections in both States will be on the same day, why elections were announced on different dates,” Mr. Sharma said.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Morbi bridge collapse, saying when the tragedy happened, the Congress had cancelled all political programmes but the Prime Minister “went ahead with official programmes”.

Mr. Sharma said the Congress was working very hard in Gujarat and the results to the polls in the State will be “surprising”.