Cong targets CM’s secy, wants him out of state till elections

A delegation of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) led by its president Arjun Modhwadia on Saturday called on state chief electoral officer (CEO) Anita Karwal and demanded immediate transfer of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary K Kailashnathan outside the state in the interest of free and fair polls.

In a statement, Modhwadia alleged that Kailashnathan was misusing the state machinery for Modi's publicity even after the model code of conduct came into force with the announcement of the poll dates by Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 3.

The Congress leader said Kailashnathan had sent an email to all the district collectors asking to mobilise women aaganwadi workers for CM's Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra, an event being organised by the state BJP.

According to Modhwadia, a video-conferencing of CM with aanganwadi workers across the state was organised by Kailashnathan through district collectors at 12.30 pm on Saturday and it was cancelled only when he took up the matter with Karwal.

"Kailashnathan is working like publicity in-charge of BJP and involved in preparation of all video-films, advertisements and other publicity material," Modhwadia alleged.

Stating that "Kailashnathan has become a threat to impartial elections in the state", Modhwadia demanded he be transferred immediately outside the state till the completion of elections.

Karwal, when contacted, said the Congress delegation had met her and lodged a verbal complaint against Kailashnathan. "But I told them to give in writing whatever complaint they have with any official," she said.

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