In a formal memorandum submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer, a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called for appropriate action against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for concealing information about the criminal cases filed against him.
Addressing the media outside the Election Commission office, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat alleged that Ashok Gehlot had intentionally omitted the mention of two serious criminal cases in his nomination affidavit.
This complaint adds a new dimension to the political landscape in Rajasthan ahead of the upcoming elections.
“Ashok Gehlot has two cases against him; one is in connection with the land scam, and the other is of looting, rape, and sexual offence, which he is completely aware of, but he did not disclose this information in his affidavit. This is cognisable under Section 125A of the Representation of People Act. We have complained to the Election Commission to take cognisance and take appropriate action,” Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said.
CM Ashok Gehlot filed his nomination from the Sardarpura Assembly constituency in Rajasthan, which is going to the polls on November 25.
The Congress released its seventh list of 21 candidates, fielding State Minister Shanti Dhariwal for the Kota North seat. In its Sunday list, the party denied a ticket to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s loyalist and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Dharmendra Rathore.
The Congress fielded Mahendra Singh Ralawata from the Ajmer North constituency.
Notably, Shanti Dhariwal and Dharmendra Rathore were among the three senior State leaders against whom the party’s disciplinary committee had issued notices after they did not attend a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in the State and held a parallel meeting of MLAs instead last year, during the party presidential elections.
After polling, the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on December 5, along with four other State assembly elections.
(with inputs from ANI)
