A Bahujan Samaj Party MP kicked up a row on Saturday by alleging that Chief Minister Mayawati had used government machinery to gather “election intelligence” in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and accordingly made changes in the list of selected candidates.
The allegation by Jugal Kishore, who is also BSP coordinator, drew sharp condemnation on Saturday from the Opposition parties who demanded that the Election Commission probe the alleged misuse of State government machinery.
“The party [BSP] brought about a few changes in the names of candidates declared earlier at a few places after behenji [Mayawati] gathered details from government machinery...like local intelligence unit,” Mr. Kishore had alleged at a rally during his visit to Azamgarh on Tuesday (December 27).
“It is most unfortunate and an inquiry should be conducted into the matter,” UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said. “Instead of taking administrative work the machinery was misused for party work which led to mis-governance,” she alleged.
Ms. Joshi said the Election Commission should take suo motu cognisance of the incident and conduct an inquiry.
