Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Wednesday alleged irregularities and misuse of administrative machinery in the ongoing local body election process across the state.

Criticising the alleged misuse of police and administrative machinery at the behest of the BJP, GPCC Media Convener and Spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi claimed that Congress candidates were being harassed through intimidation and coercion. He alleged that anti-social elements were pressuring candidates to withdraw their nomination forms.

Doshi further claimed that public anger against BJP representatives was growing across the state. He alleged that even in areas under the direct charge of the Chief Minister, BJP functionaries were being favoured. According to him, the BJP, “blinded by arrogance”, was facing public resentment in cities such as Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Surendranagar.

He also alleged that in several places, including Vadodara, Surat and Ahmedabad, attempts were being made to secure victories without actual voting through various tactics.

Raising serious concerns, Doshi claimed that several district-level commandants in the Home Guard department were allegedly associated with the BJP and the RSS, and had been strategically placed in roles linked to the election process.

Citing a specific instance in Ahmedabad, he alleged that a Home Guard official, Rahulbhai P. Kori, who he claimed held a position in a local BJP unit, had been assigned duties in the district control room related to election work. The control room, he said, handles sensitive processes such as postal ballots and arrangements for employee voting.

The GPCC said it had informed the Election Commission of India about the issue and demanded that officials with political affiliations be immediately removed from election-related duties to ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process. DeshGujarat