After Firozabad, Congress has now expressed its concern over the misuse of government machinery in the run-up to the Lucknow (West) Assembly by-poll.

Congress leaders led by UPCC Vice-President Ranjit Singh Judeo met the election observer for Lucknow (West)

Assembly seat and complained that the “district election officer (district magistrate) has given free hand to the BSP workers by allowing them to put flags in their ward office, but at the same time preventing the Congress workers from doing the same”.

The Congress leaders also complained that the BSP workers are freely distributing and filling forms for widow pension, old age pension and other welfare scheme and are promising further benefits to the people for their votes. “It is unfortunate that state employees also accompany them,” said Judeo.

He also demanded the removal of circle police officer as well as the station officer of Chowk area.

Firozabad bypoll: Rahul comes calling for Raj Babbar

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will campaign for Raj Babbar in the Firozabad Lok Sabha constituency, where bypolls are due on November 7 along with 11 other Assembly seats. AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh and state party president Rita Bahuguna Joshi have already been campaigning for actor-politician who is the Congress nominee.

Rahul’s visit, scheduled for October 30, is significant since as per the initial planning, neither Sonia nor the young MP was expected to campaign during the bypolls in UP. Sources said the seat has now become a prestige issue between the Congress and Samajwadi Party, which has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav.

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