New Delhi, Oct 1 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked Election Commission to take steps to conduct free and fair polls in Akkalkot constituency in Solapur district of Maharashtra where one of its activists was murdered.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said, "We were satisfied that all the three election commissioners were present and gave a patient hearing to us and assured as the deputy election commissioner Jaiprakash will go there inspect the area and see that that free and fair election in the area."

An alliance of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Republican Party of India (RPI) is taking on the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra.hree rebels from Congress and two to three from the NCP were reportedly in the race.

A sitting legislator of Congress party from Amravati constituency and a Minister, Sunil Deshmukh, is contesting against official candidate Rajendra Shekhawat, son of President Pratibha Patil.

The Congress party defended its decision to field Shekawat saying candidates were finalised taking into consideration the chances to win.

"Political parties do not contest elections for charity, they want to come to power and so they field candidates keeping in mind their winning capacity. If they do not, then it is a loss to them. If a candidate has a capacity to win we will field him," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. (ANI)