The poll panel on Tuesday ordered a probe into the allegation that Congress candidate from Raipur Lok Sabha seat Pramod Dubey purportedly offered money to a group of women to set up self-help groups.
Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo said a complaint against Dubey was received and it was forwarded to Raipur district electoral officer for a probe.
Dubey, who is also Raipur mayor, posted some pictures of his campaign in the Facebbok on Tuesday. In the posts, he was allegedly seen offering Rs 10,000 to young women voters to set up SHGs.
The BJP promptly picked up the issue and made a complaint to the CEO and also to the Election Commission of India.
Dubey, meanwhile, deleted the post from his Facebook account.
The Congress so far has not reacted to the allegation.
In another allegation against a Congress candidate, the BJP claimed that the ruling party’s candidate from Korba Lok Sabha constituency Jyotsna Mahant addressed a press conference at the official residence of her husband Charandas Mahant.
Jyotsna Mahant is the wife of Chhattisgarh state assembly Speaker Charandas Mahant.
Briefing media, the CEO, however, denied receiving any official complaint in the matter.
“We have not received any complaint over the reported press conference addressed by Congress candidate Jyotsna Mahant at Speaker’s residence. Necessary action will be initiated if we receive the complaint,” the CEO said.
He said, “During scrutiny for the first phase of polling in Bastar, nomination papers of one candidate Jaisingh Kawde have been rejected, leaving only seven contestants in the electoral fray now.
The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha seat is March 28, after which the election symbols will be allocated to the candidates, he added.
“The notification for third phase of polling for seven Lok Sabha seats of Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur will be issued on March 28. The last date for filing of nomination for these seats is April 4 and last date for withdrawal of nomination is April 8 till 3.00 pm,” Sahoo said.
For the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state will have 406 ‘Sangwari’ (women) polling centres, 464 model polling centres and 56 polling centres for differently-abled persons. The State has 23,727 polling centres out of which 5,625 polling centres have been marked as “critical.”