Jaipur, Sept. 30 -- A Congress delegation led by Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra met State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum alleging irregularities in the recently concluded civic body elections. The delegation sought action against officials and employees allegedly involved in electoral irregularities and the misuse of administrative machinery. The State Election Commission assured the delegation that action would be taken if the allegations were substantiated through an inquiry. Speaking to the media, Dotasra alleged that Congress candidates faced discrimination from the nomination stage. "In several places, BJP candidates whose nomination papers had deficiencies were called at night and allowed to rectify them, while Congress candidates' nominations were rejected over minor shortcomings," he alleged. He said the Congress had raised the issue with the commission at the time, but alleged that no action was taken at the lower level. "Police and administrative machinery were used during the formation of civic boards after polling. Attempts were made to pressure Congress councillors and some were taken to BJP camps," Dotasra claimed. He alleged that police were deployed outside locations where Congress and Congress-backed independent councillors were staying and that their movements were monitored. Cases were also allegedly registered against some councillors through their neighbours and relatives. "We have also placed before the election commissioner details of 152 FIRs registered during the civic elections," Dotasra said. He said the Election Commission must not only be impartial in its decisions but must also be seen to be impartial in its functioning. Dotasra also attacked chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, calling him a "councillor-stealing chief minister", and alleged that the government had compromised the dignity of democratic institutions. Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully alleged that the BJP had misused government machinery during the elections. He claimed the alleged involvement extended beyond the police to officials from the general administration, urban local bodies, forest and food safety departments. "We have placed all these complaints, along with evidence, before the election commissioner," Jully said. Jully also claimed that some officials who refused to work under political pressure were being harassed or threatened with transfers. SEC Singh assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken if the evidence submitted by the Congress was found to be genuine and the allegations substantiated. BJP state secretary Ekta Agarwal rejected the allegations, saying the Congress was questioning the electoral mandate. She said the elections were conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission and that specific complaints should be examined on the basis of evidence. "Making serious allegations against constitutional institutions and government officials without establishing them with evidence is not justified," Agarwal said. She added that the BJP respected the electoral process and would welcome an inquiry into specific complaints based on facts and evidence....