Pressing their demand for calling off Antagarh bypoll, senior leaders of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) on Monday staged a three-hour demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The Antagarh Assembly constituency falls under Kanker district in Chhattisgarh where the bypoll is scheduled for September 13 this year.
Senior party leaders, including Motilal Vora, Mohsina Kidwai, CGPCC President, Bhupesh Baghel, ClP leader, TS Singhdeo, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi along with more than two dozen Congress MlAs and a large number of party workers participated in the demonstration.
“Our protest is against BJP-led Government in Chhattisagrh, which used Government machinary, lured and also issued threats to Congress party’s as well as 10 independent candidates to withdraw their nomination from the Antagarh by-poll” alleged Baghel.
He said that Congress party’s dummy candidate’s nomination was cancelled in an ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unlawful’ manner.
The protesting leaders later reached the Election Commission of India (ECI) office to submit a memorandum to the officials concerned.
“Congress party leaders and workers apprised the officials at the ECI about various ‘anomalies’ reported in Antagarh by-poll. Thus, we also urged them to cancel the polls” added the party’s State Wing Chief.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Raman Singh took a dig on Congress party saying that instead of looking for the reasons behind their candidate’s withdrawing his nomination from the poll, the party leaders are staging protest in New Delhi.