New Delhi: The Congress Party on Wednesday, November 8, approached the Election Commission India (EC) to lodge a complaint against "prejudicial action" of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against its leaders in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, The Hindu reported.

However, the party has not petitioned the poll body against the free ration scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite indicating earlier that it amounted to a violation of the poll code and vowed to raise the issue with the EC.

In a memorandum submitted to the EC, Congress alleged that ED is being used as a "political tool" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the opposition, citing the instances of raids at Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara and notices served on Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav. The party also drew the attention of the election watchdog to allegations made by the ED against Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Led by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress leaders Taqir Anwar and Udit Raj urged the EC to initiate action against ED officials who are "misusing" their powers and violating the election guidelines, which insist on "neutral, impartial and non-discriminatory" actions by agencies.

"We have requested the EC to put an immediate stop to the activities of the 'election department' of the BJP," said Singhvi. Tariq Anwar added, "The ED is acting as the election agent of the BJP in Chhattisgarh and is making unverified statements against our chief minister."

The ED on November 4 had said it was probing an alleged payment of about Rs 508 crore by the Mahadev betting app promoters, who are facing serious criminal charges, to Baghel over a period of time. Following these allegations, Modi, in his campaign speeches, had said Baghel should not be allowed to sit in the chief minister's chair even for a day and the chief minister's office was a "hub of corruption".

Against this backdrop, Singhvi objected to Modi pronouncing Baghel guilty. "I think this is at the heart of the ‘level playing field’ issue. The level playing field directly impinges on free and fair elections on democracy and therefore, violates the basic structure of the constitution."

On free ration 

Despite refraining from petitioning the poll body over Modi's announcement of a free ration scheme, the Congress has continued to step up its attack. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pointed out that it was the same prime minister who called such welfare measures by Congress as "revidis (freebies)" is now declaring his free ration scheme as a social upliftment programme.

In poll-bound Chattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, November 4, had said his government will extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which provides 5 kg of free food rations every month to about 80 crore poor, by another five years.

The scheme was rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. "The free ration scheme’s tenure is going to be completed in December, but it will be extended for the next five years. This is Modi’s guarantee that the stoves will keep burning in the homes of my 80 crore countrymen," Modi said while addressing a rally in Durg in Chhattisgarh.

Soon after Congress called out Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making new announcements, Modi told crowds at his campaigns that Congress is against free ration to the poor. "Let them commit this sin, I will continue to do good work for the people," he said addressing a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh town. "Eighty crore people will get free ration for the next five years," he added.

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