Jaisalmer: Senior Congress member and former Rajasthan minister B D Kalla Saturday accused the BJP govt of misusing police and intelligence machinery to influence the upcoming elections for urban local body chiefs in the state.Speaking to reporters at the district Congress office in Jaisalmer, Kalla alleged that CID officials visited a training camp where newly elected Congress councillors of Bikaner Municipal Corporation were staying and sought their identity cards. He also alleged that the councillors were subjected to pressure and intimidation.Kalla said Congress was keeping a close watch on administrative and police officials misusing their positions during the elections. “Govts change, and when our govt returns to power, action will be taken against those found to have misused their official positions, as per law,” he said.Kalla also alleged that govt agencies were being used to put pressure on elected councillors and influence the mayoral election in Bikaner. He said officials should resign from govt service if they wanted to engage in politics, adding that political activity while holding an official position was against constitutional principles.He referred to action taken by the Bikaner Development Authority against the hotel ‘Shaurya 3.0’, owned by Congress councillor Manoj Bishnoi. Kalla questioned the timing of the action, alleging that a notice dated Sept 15 was pasted at the hotel Saturday.Congress members alleged that the BDA notice, along with police notices relating to old cases against councillors, was being used to exert pressure. They demanded that state election commission take action against officials found misusing their positions and ensure that the civic body formation process was conducted according to rules and without administrative pressure.
