MAPUSA
Congress candidate from Mapusa constituency Sudhir Kandolkar and his supporters were booked for allegedly moving around and campaigning late in the night in violation of the model code of conduct in Khorlim-Mapusa on Tuesday.
Based on a complaint filed by the flying squad in-charge of Mapusa, an offence under Section 188 of the IPC was registered against Sudhir Kandolkar and others.
“We have received a complaint that a candidate and his supporters have violated the model code of conduct. An FIR under relevant sections of the IPC has been registered against them,” a police official informed.
As per information available, Congress candidate Sudhir Kandolkar and a couple of his supporters were moving around in Wards 14 and 15 at Khorlim-Mapusa well past 10 pm on Tuesday.
Kandolkar was allegedly moving around in a private vehicle which had election material stored on its back seat.
Soon after getting information the flying squad rushed to the spot.
The Congress candidate Sudhir Kandolkar was later brought to the Mapusa Police Station.
In the meanwhile, two groups “ supporters of the BJP and Sudhir Kandolkar “ converged at the police station at mid-night and started trading allegations against each other of election misconduct.
Mapusa Police brought the situation under control by asking both the groups to disperse from the site.
According to the BJP, the Congress candidate was campaigning beyond allotted time and trying to influence the voters in Khorlim, Mapusa.
“We got information that the Congress candidate was moving in some houses and influencing the voters at Ganghanagar (a migrant colony). We called up the flying squad. But they got the wind of it and immediately escaped from the area,” alleged Tanvesh Keni, President of BJP Yuva morcha.
Congress candidate, Sudhir Kandolkar, informed that the BJP was rattled with the kind of support he was getting in Mapusa and therefore raising unnecessary issues.
“After finishing campaigning for the day, I had gone to visit a person in Khorlim for some personal work. But some BJP workers tried to create an issue and called the flying squad. This is nothing but an attempt to divert people’s attention for their inefficiency,” Kandolkar said.
