with Voting in first phase of Gujarat assembly elections AAP vs BJP fight has intensified. The BJP has now accused the AAP of ‘promoting the use of alcohol’ during the election campaign.
BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla released a video clip of AAP leader and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, in which he can be heard saying that during elections in villages, it feels like “Holi-Diwali” celebration. The liquor supplied to them.
Bhardwaj is also heard saying, “We know when liquor is being distributed in some areas and whenever it is being distributed, we don’t tell the police or the police. Election Commission about it. We say if something good is happening to someone, let them share because people enjoy it.”
Ugly man! Big insult to people living in villages and Diwali/Holi – Saurabh Bhardwaj says during elections “villagers are “set” – they ask for soda, not water! He insults Holi and Diwali as well. This man is an MLA and is openly promoting the use of alcohol in elections! 1/2 pic.twitter.com/vcMQiyyfCp
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) December 1, 2022
The BJP spokesperson pulled up the party leader and demanded the Election Commission to take action against the party and its leader. “It is shocking that AAP spokespersons are labeling all men living in villages as alcoholics. It is derogatory that he says that during elections the mood is like Holi and Diwali and people get set because of drinking alcohol,” Poonawalla said.
“No wonder his government also did the liquor scam. Now promoting and supporting the use of alcohol in elections. Will Aam Aadmi Party sack this leader for his comments on villages/villagers and Holi and Diwali? ECI should also take note!, tweeted Ponnavala, accusing you of violating the code of conduct.
This video has come in the midst of a fierce fight between AAP and BJP in Gujarat. Earlier this week, both PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal were in Surat for campaigning. While PM Modi said that AAP has no chance to make a mark in Gujarat, Delhi CM assured that AAP is going to do a big show in Gujarat.
Voting for 89 seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections has started from 8 am on Thursday. Queues of people were seen outside booths across the region on Thursday morning and the Chief Election Commissioner has said a record number of votes are expected to be cast this year. Prominent candidates in the first phase include AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi from Khambhalia in Saurashtra region and Rivaba Jadeja, wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who is the BJP candidate from Jamnagar North.
Apart from the BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 36 other political organisations, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Tribal Party of India, BTP) has also fielded its candidates in various seats where polling will be held in the first phase.
BJP and Congress are contesting in all 89 seats, while newly elected candidate AAP is contesting in 88 seats after its candidate from Surat East constituency withdrew his candidature.
339 independents are also in the fray in the first phase of polling. Among other parties, BSP has fielded 57 candidates, BTP 14 and CPI(M) four. Of the total 788 candidates, 70 are women, including nine from the BJP, six from the Congress and five from the AAP.
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