Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh has accused Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of misusing religious places for political activities in Barmer, a complaint found baseless by the district administration.
Mr. Singh, who is contesting from Barmer Lok Sabha seat as an Independent candidate, filed a complaint on the matter with the district election officer in Barmer on Saturday. Speaking to reporters in Jaisalmer on Sunday, Mr. Singh claimed that Ms. Raje has been visiting various religious places in the constituency and using them for political activities.
The former Union Minister said he has also demanded from the election department to add Ms. Raje’s cost of travelling by a helicopter for visiting the constituency to the election expense of Sonaram Choudhary, the BJP candidate from Barmer. “Ms. Raje is making all efforts to defeat me in the Lok Sabha elections instead of focusing on her Mission-25 campaign to win all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State,” he said, adding that it (Mr. Singh’s defeat) will not take place.
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When contacted, additional district Collector (Barmer) H. S. Meena said Mr. Singh had filed the complaint on Saturday but the election department found that no such activity was done at any religious place by Ms. Raje during her recent visit to Barmer. “Video recording of her visit was examined and we found that no political activity was done at any religious place. As far as the expense of the helicopter used by the Chief Minister is concerned, it was her personal visit,” he said. Ms. Raje visited temples in Barmer district on Friday.