Raipur
Kawasi Lakhma, a senior Congress leader and the party’s candidate for the Bastar Lok Sabha seat, has been implicated for allegedly distributing money during a program in Jagdalpur on March 24.
Following his announcement as a candidate for the Bastar Lok Sabha seat, Lakhma commenced his campaign in Jagdalpur. On March 24, he visited various religious places, including temples, mosques, and gurudwaras, where he reportedly contributed funds to the committee organizing the Holika Dahan program in Jagdalpur.
Images and videos capturing Lakhma donating money quickly spread across social media platforms. Bastar SP Salabh Kumar Sinha confirmed that the district election officer, acting through the additional collector, promptly filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Lakhma upon noticing the viral content. Sinha stated, “The FIR has been registered at the Kotwali police station under Section 188, 171E, Section 171C of the IPC, and Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. We are currently investigating the matter, and further actions will be determined based on the findings.”
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader and minister Kedar Kashyap accused Lakhma of resorting to cash distribution as a means of contesting elections upon his candidacy for the Lok Sabha seat. Kashyap announced the BJP’s intention to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission, expressing dismay over the situation and seeking strict action against Lakhma.
Furthermore, BJP state spokesperson Sanjay Shrivastav condemned Lakhma’s actions, highlighting that they occurred during the enforcement of the electoral code of conduct. He criticized the incident as indicative of the Congress’s true nature.
Congress Communication Department head Sushil Anand Shukla claimed that the BJP was conspiring against Congress candidates, alleging that Lakhma’s nomination had unsettled the BJP.
