Indore(PTI): Supporters of a Congress corporator, accused of attempting to kill a BJP functionary, gave him a milk bath and welcomed him by beating drums after he was released on bail from a jail here in Madhya Pradesh.

Some photographs of the welcome accorded to Indore corporator Raju Bhadoria went viral on social media on Wednesday, following which the ruling BJP in MP claimed the opposition Congress was glorifying a person accused of a serious offence and indulging in criminalisation of politics

According to police officials, Bhadoria was arrested on July 13 this year from Kota in Rajasthan on charge of attempt to kill rival BJP candidate Chandurao Shinde on July 6 during the Indore civic polls.

Bhadoria was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 307 (attempt to murder). He was released on bail on Wednesday.

After Bhadoria came out of a local jail, his supporters took out a procession along with music and drum beats and gave him a milk bath, which the BJP criticised.

Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Umesh Sharma claimed that by organising such events and glorifying an accused in a serious case, the Congress is indulging in criminalisation of politics.

However, state Congress secretary Neelabh Shukla claimed a false FIR was registered against Bhadoria at the behest of the BJP. Shukla further claimed that Bhadoria was not present at the spot during the alleged attack on Shinde.

Bhadoria was declared elected in the civic election from ward no. 22 on July 17, when he was in jail.

Shinde, who lost the election, is considered a strong supporter of BJP's national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya and local MLA Ramesh Mendola.

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Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said there was no justification for the Tamil Nadu governor to stop TVK leader Vijay from forming the government, and he should be provided an opportunity to prove majority in the assembly.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday rejected TVK chief Vijay's claim to form the government, stating that his party lacks the requisite numbers.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has fallen short of meeting a simple majority to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Though the Congress with five MLAs has offered support to TVK, Vijay's party falls short of a simple majority of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Abdullah said there was no justification for President's rule in Tamil Nadu in view of numerous Supreme Court judgements emphasising on inviting the single largest party to form the government and then prove its majority on the floor of the house.

"If we see the Supreme Court judgement, then there should be no President's rule. There are so many cases in which the SC has clearly stated that after the elections, the single largest party should be invited (for government formation) and they should be allowed to prove their majority in the assembly," Abdullah told reporters here when asked about the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

"It happened when (former prime minister) (A B) Vajpayee formed the government for 13 days, the President of India did not wait for him to show his numbers. The President of India invited him, the government was there for 13 days, but when Vajpayee did not have the numbers, he resigned," he said.

So, if we take the SC judgement, the J-K CM added, then the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan "has no justification to stop this process".

"Vijay should be allowed to form the government, and then he should be provided an opportunity to prove his majority and if he proves, he will remain, but if not, then he will have to resign," Abdullah said.

To a question on whether there would be impact of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Jammu and Kashmir, the CM said its impact remains to be seen in the rest of the country first as the assembly elections in the Union territory were not due till 2029.

"As of now it (SIR) has happened in Bengal only. Why are you worried about J-K? The elections are not to take place here till 2029. Let us first see its impact in the rest of the country. What we had to suffer (in J-K), we have. We suffered their delimitation, which was done to benefit the BJP and its friends. Let's see what happens in the future," he said.

On the reported remarks of Leader of Opposition in the J-K assembly, Sunil Sharma, that if the chief minister goes for cabinet expansion, then his party, the National Conference (NC), would suffer like the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and someone like Eknath Shinde would emerge here as well, Abdullah said all his MLAs stand firmly with the party.

"This tells about the intentions of the BJP. 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' (turncoats). Eknath Shinde left because the BJP helped him to leave. It is obvious that the LoP is impatient to hold the chair of the chief minister of J-K. I will only tell him that there is no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference. NC's MLAs stand firmly with the party," he said.

Abdullah said the cabinet expansion is on hold because statehood has not been restored to J-K.

"Cabinet expansion is not on hold because of any fear and that is why I regularly say that the LoP proves through statements like this that till the BJP does not get power, they will not allow us to work smoothly and will not make J-K a state again," he said.

Hitting out at the LoP and the BJP, the J-K CM said the people of J-K, especially those who voted for the BJP in the last elections, should remember that the LoP and his party "indulge in the politics of blackmail and the people here are intimidated in the name of statehood".