A formal complaint has been filed against BJP leader Parvesh Verma for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during his campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Accusations have been made against Verma, who is contesting from the New Delhi constituency, regarding the distribution of shoes to voters, which is considered a corrupt practice under election laws.
The complaint against Verma was filed by the Returning Officer for the New Delhi constituency after a report was received claiming that shoes were seen being distributed to women voters in the area. The officer cited two videos, provided by the complainant, showing Verma in the act of distributing shoes. The complaint also referred to Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which prohibits candidates or their agents from offering gifts or gratification to voters to influence their votes.
In his letter to the SHO of Mandir Marg Police Station, the Returning Officer urged an immediate investigation into the matter, emphasizing that such actions could be a violation of the MCC. He directed the police to take appropriate action and report back with their findings as soon as possible. In response to the complaint, police sources confirmed that a non-cognizable report (NCR) has been filed, and an investigation has been initiated.
However, Parvesh Verma has strongly denied the allegations, claiming that he was simply honoring sanitation workers by placing shoes on their feet at a temple. He clarified that no shoes were actually distributed to the public, and the intention behind the act was to recognize the hard work of sanitation workers, not to influence voters.
Verma is running for re-election in the New Delhi seat, where polling is scheduled for February 5, along with the rest of Delhi’s 69 assembly constituencies. He is facing strong competition from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is also contesting from the same seat, and Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit.
On Wednesday, Verma filed his nomination for the election, accompanied by hundreds of his supporters. The BJP leader expressed confidence in his chances of winning, stating that his candidacy was focused on development and that the BJP would emerge victorious in New Delhi. He emphasized the importance of development in his campaign, saying, “This nomination has been filed for development. BJP will certainly win from the New Delhi seat.”
Parvesh Verma, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, has had a long political career. He first entered the political scene in 2013 when he contested and won the Mehrauli Vidhan Sabha seat. He later went on to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the West Delhi constituency, winning elections in both 2014 and 2019.
As the election date approaches, the controversy surrounding Verma’s alleged actions could have an impact on his campaign, adding another layer of tension to what is already a closely watched race in the national capital.
