Panaji, Feb 13 (IANS): Three Congress candidates and one Trinamool Congress candidate, on Sunday claimed that the footage of an alleged sting operation, in which it was alleged the four candidates showed readiness to quit their respective parties to join the BJP after elections, is fake and have now filed a complaint with the election authorities in the state.
Footage of the sting operation, which was broadcast late on Saturday on a Hindi news channel allegedly caught Congress candidates Sankalp Amonkar, Savio D'Silva and Avertano Furtado and former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao of the BJP, suggested that the four candidates were willing to accept money to join the BJP post elections.
All four candidates and their respective parties have claimed the footage was doctored and have submitted a complaint to the state elections commission.
The Congress has blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party for the alleged conspiracy.
"A conspiracy has been hatched by the BJP-AAP duo to defame the Congress party and three of the party office-bearers. With mala fide intention, through a news channel called 'Hindi Khabar', they have released a fake, distorted and doctored video during the 48 hour silent period. This is in violation of The Representation of People's Act," the Congress said in a statement.
"They're trying to subvert democracy by attempting to interfere with free and fair elections. AICC incharge Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, President Girish Chodankar and General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar met with the Chief Electoral Officer and have appraised him of the same and have urged action against the channel and whoever is responsible for the doctored video," the party also said in a statement.
The Trinamool has accused the AAP of circulating the allegedly doctored video, which is not available on Youtube following complaints by the political parties.
"Our Benaulim candidate Churchill Alemao wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India seeking strict action against Aam Aadmi Party and Hindi Khabar for circulating a doctored video," the Trinamool said in a statement.
40 seats of the state legislative assembly go to polls on February 14.