The Congress has approached the Election Commission accusing the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat of misusing the state machinery. It yesterday said that the administration was denying its candidates an equal footing in poll campaigning.

Referring to the detention of Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress candidate against Modi, and other party workers when they tried to paste his posters on his rival's banners at advertisement kiosks, a Congress delegation demanded the EC to ensure that state machinery is not used to benefit BJP.

Congress leaders Motilal Vora, Ahmed Patel, Janardan Dwivedi, K C Mittal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi were part of the delegation.