Vilasrao Deshmukh violated poll code, says BJYM

MUMBAI: Besides castigation by the apex court for showing favouritism in land allotment to a filmmaker and reported indictment by CAG for irregularities in land allotment to a trust owned by him, Union Science and Technology Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh now finds himself facing another charge -- that of violating model poll code.

BJP's youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, has lodged a complaint with district authorities in Latur that Deshmukh violated the model code of conduct for the municipal corporation elections by using the premises of a temple for poll campaign.

A BJYM delegation led by its state unit executive member Babu Khandade met Latur collector Dr Vipin Sharma, seeking action against Deshmukh for breaching the poll code.

"As per Election Commission norms, a religious place cannot be used for election work but that is what Deshmukh did on April 2 when he launched the Congress campaign for the civic elections at the Siddheshwar temple premises," Khandade told PTI.

The Latur municipal corporation election is scheduled on April 15.

"We had no objection to Deshmukh breaking the coconut at the temple but he also addressed an election rally in the premises," Khandade said.

The BJYM team also apprised the collector, who is also the returning officer, of print and TV media coverage of the poll campaign launch.

"In footage shown by a Marathi TV channel, Deshmukh is clearly seen making a political speech at a pandal erected in the temple premises," Khandade said.

Latur Congress leader Samad Patel had issued press releases and published advertisements in newspapers, asking Congress candidates to attend the "launch of the poll campaign", he said.