'Those having two wives, will get...': Congress candidate from Ratlam under fire over poll promise

Kantilal Bhuria, a former Union Minister and Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, courted controversy with his poll promise of Rs 2 lakh to those who have two wives if his party comes to power.

"If Congress comes to power, as our manifesto states, every woman will get Rs 1 lakh in her bank account. Women from each household will receive Rs 1-1 lakh. Those who have two wives will get Rs 2 lakh..." Bhuria said while addressing a poll rally in Ratlam.

On April 5, Congress released its manifesto 'Nyay patra' for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. According to the manifesto, women will get Rs 8,500 per month under the Mahalaxmi scheme till they move out of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) segment.

Bhuria's poll promise immediately came under the radar of his opponents.

Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja shared the clip of Bhuria's statement on X (formally Twitter) and tagged the Election Commission seeking action against the candidate.

"What an objectionable comment made by Congress's Ratlam candidate Kantilal Bhuria about the head of the country, who represents 140 crore people of the country...Such is the cheap thinking of Congress...Election Commission should take cognizance and take action," Saluja wrote in his post.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala claimed that Bhuria's promise is showing that the Congress wanted to give incentives to those whose personal law allows multiple marriages.

"Kantilal Bhuria of Congress discloses the perverted variant of "jitni aabadi utna haq" scheme/guarantee of Congress. It's not about women samman but treating women like an object... Disgusting, Congress says, If you practice multiple marriages - you can get Rsl lakh per wife .. if you have two wives -Rs 2 lakhs .. so on .. 4 wives then you can calculate... Kantilal Bhurai wants to give a guarantee to those whose personal law encourages multiple marriages and wants to incentivise more population of its vote bank," he posted on X.

Kantilal Bhuria is contesting on a Congress ticket against BJP's Anita Chauhan, the wife of MP forest minister Nagar Singh Chauhan. The Ratlam constituency will go to polls in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 13.

Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh are underway in four phases. The first phase of voting ended on April 19, followed by the second phase on April 26 and the third phase on May 7.

The final phase for the state is scheduled for May 13, which includes eight constituencies: Dhar, Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Indore, Khargone, and Khandwa.