In a notation to the Election Commission, the opposition party contended that there is a blatant violation of all the requisite pre-election standards by the BJP. Congress further asserted that the ruling party has proclaimed ‘Garib Kalyan Saptah’ celebration from September 17-23 just before the bypolls specifically to woo voters.

This development comes on the heels of the video which went viral in which Imarti Devi had stated that BJP can win elections just by dialing up any state official. Imarti Devi is a Women and child development minister in MP government. The worry of congress is valid given the tight spot in which it has been cornered when 25 of its MLAs resigned and joined BJP. The ruling party in the state has currently 107 seats in the MP assembly with seats for total 230 members. Congress has currently 89 seats.

The by-elections are crucial given that it will decide the fate of 27 seats which are to be contested in it. BJP needs to win just 8 of the seats to retain their majority allowing them to retain the control of MP. Congress needs to win all of the 27 seats to bounce back to power in the state. In this context, Imarti Devi had commented that it is foolish to think that the ruling party would lower its shield to such an extent that the congress makes significant gains and reach nearer to its target of winning 27 seats.

The Congress stated in its memorandum and in another of its statements that it would not be out of place to mention that the Model Code of Conduct casts special duties on party in power. The Congress asserted that the MCC ensures that no cause is given for any complainant that the ruling party has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign. Congress tried to place its complaint to the election commission in the context of its need to win all the 27 seats. Collectors and divisional commissioners across Madhya Pradesh have been vigorously notified to organize programmes under the ‘Garib Kalyan Saptah’. The Congress has alleged and anticipated that in this week-long celebration, crores of Rupees are to be transported and distributed to voters by BJP workers with the purpose to induce, gratify, and cast undue influence on the voters just before bypoll elections.

Speaking at a function this Sunday, Congress MLA Arif Masood in his effort to connect it to the national political drama pulled up the centre to illustrate how the Pulwama attack had taken place before the 2019 polls despite a high alert. Upping the ante he further asked why the braveheart CRPF soldiers who died in the attack, are yet to get justice as a conclusive probe is yet to be carried out. Arif Masood also asked why the centre has been hesitant to answer questions related to the Pulwama attack.

The Congress also called on the poll watchdog to take all the necessary efforts as may be crucial and expected in the eyes of law for administering free and fair bypolls in Madhya Pradesh. To some extent, this justifies the concern of congress.

Bypolls are set to take place for 27 seats in Madhya Pradesh, among which two are vacant due to deaths as per the Election Commission. Another MLA of Congress died this Tuesday which will technically make the seat vacant, but that seat has not yet been declared so by the election commission. The Congress had announced this Friday its first list of 15 candidates for the forthcoming by-elections. Most of the seats going to polls became available when rebel Congress members resigned from the party and the assembly to join the BJP. Recently Kamalnath has pitted Sachin Pilot against Jyotiraditya Scindia in a road show. This might show a sign of desperation as Pilot was recently in the centre of the fiasco in Rajasthan where it was felt that he might lead to the fall of the government under Ashok Gehlot of Congress.

Edited by: Biswarup Mukhopadhyay, Editor Opinion.