Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Thiruvananthapuram, has thrown down the gauntlet to his Congress rival, Shashi Tharoor, challenging him to a debate on the development of Thiruvananthapuram.
This challenge comes in the wake of accusations levelled by Tharoor against Chandrasekhar, alleging the latter of offering money to religious leaders and key voters in the constituency during a recent interview with a Kerala-based news organisation.
In response, Chandrasekhar took to social media to demand answers from Tharoor regarding the alleged misinformation. He questioned Tharoor about the identities of the leaders of the socio-religious organisations mentioned and called for clarity on whether similar proposals had been made in the past.
Chandrasekhar emphasised the need to end the dissemination of falsehoods and urged Tharoor to retract his statements and issue an apology.
Additionally, a letter has been sent to the Election Commission of India, highlighting Tharoor’s alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct by spreading misinformation about Chandrasekhar.
The letter, penned by advocate VV Rajesh, NDA convener for the Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary constituency, called for strict action against Tharoor for his statements made on April 6, 2024. Tharoor's remarks were deemed false, frivolous, and defamatory, with malicious intent to undermine the fairness of the elections in Thiruvananthapuram.
This incident adds to a series of accusations against the Congress and its representatives. Recently, Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed a criminal complaint against a member of the Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee for disseminating misinformation and engaging in criminal conspiracies. The complaint alleged the morphing of an old photograph to falsely implicate a business relationship with a rival political figure.
The exchange between Chandrasekhar and Tharoor underscores the intensity of the political contest in Thiruvananthapuram. As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, the competition between the BJP and Congress candidates intensifies, with each side seeking to gain an advantage through various strategies.
The call for a debate on development issues reflects the candidates' commitment to transparency and accountability in governance, as they vie for the support of the electorate in Thiruvananthapuram.
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