BJP desperate over Rajya Sabha polls, says Gehlot, slams IT raids

Jaipur, Aug 2: Congress General Secretary Ashok Gehlot, who is in charge of the party affairs in Gujarat, on Wednesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it is hell-bent upon killing democracy in the Rajya Sabha elections.

In a series of tweets, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan said: "Nobody could have thought, BJP would stoop so low. First elections were postponed, then NOTA was permitted and then they even started threatening MLAs in Gujarat, which led to defections from the Congress."

"Now they have resorted to IT raids. It shows their frustration and that the BJP is ready to use every kind of manipulation to win election, which is condemnable."

Later talking to the media, Gehlot said: "In spite of all the manipulations, we will win the Rajya Sabha poll in Gujarat."

"just wait and see... On August 8, you will see how we win," Gehlot said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political advisor and close confidant Ahmed Patel is contesting the Rajya Sabha poll from Gujarat.

Replying to a question on Shankar Singh Vagehla, who recently quit the Congress in Gujarat, Gehlot said that Vagehla had declared he would vote in favour of the Congress candidate.

Gehlot also castigated the BJP government in Rajasthan. He said that for the first time in the history of state, farmers had committed suicide during the present BJP regime. The government should declare loan waiver and provide compensation to the farmers, Gehlot said.

He said half the state was facing flood-like situation. "Relief measures should be taken up on priority."