BJP moves EC against PK over poll spending

Patna: A BJP delegation on Tuesday lodged a complaint with Election Commission officials in Patna, alleging violations of expenditure rules by Jan Suraaj candidate Prashant Kishor during the Bankipur assembly bypoll campaign.In its memorandum, the BJP raised concerns over alleged overspending, the use of shell companies and attempts to influence voters through fake social media accounts and bot networks.Addressing a press conference at the party office, education minister Mithilesh Tiwari, BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, former ministers Jibesh Mishra and Janak Ram, and party media in-charge Danish Eqbal claimed that while the Election Commission had fixed an expenditure ceiling of Rs 40 lakh per candidate, Prashant had already spent crores.“Instead of showing expenses directly from his bank account, Prashant is routing funds through a dummy company and disguising them as third-party expenditures,” BJP functionaries alleged. They sought an inquiry into the matter and accused the Jan Suraaj founder of money laundering.Tiwari said the BJP had also submitted details of several social media accounts allegedly operating from outside the country and accused them of influencing Bihar’s political atmosphere.Shahnawaz demanded an impartial probe and urged the Enforcement Directorate to investigate the source of the funds.Prashant, however, said the contest was between the BJP’s “arrogance” and the people of Bankipur. He claimed intimidation, arrests and attempts to buy votes would not work this time.