Kota:
With the model code in force for December 1 election in Rajasthan, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria was made to shell out money for a "10-minute" stay at a government guest house in Kota while attending a party meet.
"Kataria stayed at the House for ten minutes yesterday (On Saturday). He was asked to pay Rs 2701 for his stay as the model code of conduct is effective from Friday," guesthouse officials said.
The stay at Kota Circuit House is available free of cost for the top politicians and officers.
But one has to pay to avail the services of the House after the model code of conduct for elections comes in place, officials said, adding.
Kataria had come to address BJP booth level workers meeting at a town. He entered the House but soon realised his mistake, the officials said, adding, he sat in the reception hall instead of staying in a room.
Kota BJP president Shyam Sharma said "since it was a kind of violation of code of conduct, the Leader of Opposition honestly paid Rs 2,701 out of his pocket."
Earlier, while addressing the local BJP booth level meeting in Etawa, Sharma lashed out at ruling Congress.
"Congress has degraded the standards of democracy to 'lootocracy'. It has thrown the nation into a furnace of corruption," he alleged.