EC rules choke information flow: Rana

Strict rules enforced by the Election Commission are hampering the flow of information to the masses and result in low voter turnout in the polls, Union rural development minister Kashiram Rana said.

Rana told reporters on Saturday that the restrictions put by the commission on the use of banners and posters lead to difficulties for the voters, especially those in the rural areas.

Rana said people in interior villages are asking BJP workers about the election schedule as they do not have access to information.

Rana charged Chandravadan Pithawalla, his Congress opponent in the Surat constituency, with appeasing some communities.

On issues that could hurt him in the elections, Rana said, "Delay in the work of Surat Airport is one. Problems in the Diamond Jubilee Co-operative Bank and Suryapur Co-operative Bank are the second."

Rana, however, said these factors would only have a marginal effect.

He claimed people were happy with the "growth and development witnessed during the rule of the BJP-led NDA" and the alliance will be voted back to power with a thumping majority.

Rana said he would win by a margin of four to five lakh votes.

Rajya Sabha member Savita Sharda, Gujarat water resources minister Narottam Patel, mayor Snehlata Chauhan, city BJP president Kishore Vankawala, election co-ordinator for Surat Fakir Chauhan and MLAs Bhavna Chapatwala and Dhiru Gajera also attended the press conference.