In a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissionner, the Bhartiya Janata Party today accused the Congress of violating the model code of conduct by issuing advertisements at the cost of public exchequer in newspapers and other media as part of it’s campaign in the ongoing elections in five states.

The BJP alleged that a half-page advertisement published in major national dailies on April 5 and carrying pictures of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi had direct influence on voters in the five states and was meant to lure them. The BJP has further stated that despite the model code of conduct coming into effect in Rae Bareli from April 3, the same advertisement appeared in dailies there.

Opposition Leader L K Advani today termed as ‘‘dishonest, misleading and hypocritical’’ the recent statements made by Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The real issue was unchecked illegal immigration from Bangladesh.