The Congress stepped its attack against the Election Commission and the Narendra Modi government over the delay in the announcement of Gujarat Assembly election dates. The party has been alleging that the poll panel is delaying the announcement to help Modi to announce a number of sops in his home State.

Former Union finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that by not announcing the Gujarat poll schedule, the Election Commission had “authorised” Modi to declare the dates at his last rally, after all “freebies” for the State were doled out.

Chidambaram said the Commission will be “recalled” from its “extended holiday” after the Gujarat government had announced all “concessions and freebies”.

“EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed),” Chidambaram tweeted.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hit out at Chidambaram and said the Congress was scared of facing the polls.

“Chidambaram ji and the Congress are scared of the upcoming (State Assembly) elections. We believe elections should happen in due time, and it will happen so. But they are scared due to their desperation. And criticising the Election Commission is not the right thing in a democracy,” Rupani said.

Illiteracy, says Swamy

Senior BJP leader and Chidambaram’s bête noire Subramanian Swamy said Chidambaram had forgotten Article 324, which gives the powers of superintendence, direction and control of elections to the poll panel.

“PC (Chidambaram) has tweeted that Gujarat election date has not been announced because BJP is scared! Forgotten Constitution Art 324? Illiterate!” Swamy tweeted.

The poll panel had announced the polling for Himachal Pradesh on 12 October 12. What irked the Congress was the EC’s decision to hold off announcing the Gujarat schedule. Election Commissioners said polling in Gujarat would be held before December 18, the day of counting of votes in Himachal Pradesh.

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