Bihar grand alliance seeks action against BJP leadership

The grand alliance of the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress on Monday approached the Election Commission to complain against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership for "violating model code of conduct". Later, leaders of these parties addressed a joint press conference at the Congress headquarters here.

The alliance partners alleged the BJP workers from Patna were taken on a free ride to capitals of BJP-ruled states Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh on special trains at concessional rates, despite the model code of conduct was in place.

They demanded action against the BJP leadership under the prevention of corruption Act, Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act. According to them, the action amounted to bribing voters, which is punishable under law.

Senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member K T S Tulsi said, "It is a clear case of bribery. Who paid for these excursions? Except bribery, there can be no other term given to these blatant violations of model code by the BJP."

All-India Congress Committee General Secretary (in-charge of Bihar) CP Joshi, the party's communication department chief Randip Surjewala, JD(U) leaders K C Tyagi and Pawan Varma and RJD's Manoj Jha addressed the press conference.

"We demand the railway ministry to constitute an inquiry into the collusion of officials, who were obviously working under the Modi government's diktats in granting this illegal concession," they said.