Shah bats for Kirron

Women leave rally venue midway

• BJP national president Amit Shah addressed a workers’ meet at the Sector 27 Ramlila ground in Chandigarh on Sunday. The saffron party boss urged voters to elect local MP Kirron Kher and help Narendra Modi form the government again so that they could remove Article 370. He said development was taking place and only Modi could secure the nation.
• While Amit Shah was addressing the crowd, a block occupied by women suddenly got empty. Empty chairs were seen behind the media enclosure as lensmen ran to click pictures. Later, BJP leaders tried to make people waiting outside sit in that block. However, since it was meant for women, they were not allowed. Managers of the rally reasoned that since the event went on till 8 pm, women, who had to cook and take care of household chores, had to leave, while other blocks were packed to capacity. 

Railgate raked 

• Almost all Bharatiya Janata Party office-bearers and councillors aggressively raised the Railgate issue, involving former Railway Minister and Congress candidate from the city Pawan Kumar Bansal during their address at the party event.
• A song played by the BJP at the venue had lyrics related to “mama-bhanja.”

2 poll code violation complaints 

Chandigarh: The city Congress filed two complaints of poll code violation at the rally of BJP president Amit Shah in Sector 27 here on Sunday. Pankaj Chandgothia, advocate of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, filed the complaints. The first complaint was regarding the use of religious symbols and slogans at the rally venue. The entrance had a big gate displaying “Jai Shri Ram” and photos of Lord Hanuman. Poll observer Pradeep Kumar reached the spot and asked BJP workers to remove or cover the symbols. The BJP leaders covered the posters. The observer later submitted his report for further action by the Election Commission. Another complaint was regarding the misuse of permission, which was meant for the workers’ meet. However, they organised a large public rally in which the entire police force and government machinery was used.