India’s public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has denied the decision to launch an FM station in politican Rahul Gandhi’s constituency was politically motivated.

Gandhi is leading the ruling National Congress Party’s election campaign and is widely expected to be named as their candidate for Prime Minister.

The Indian Express newspaper reports that an FM transmitter meant for the city of Ajmer in Rajastan was diverted to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

Ajmer was one of 22 cities expected to get a new FM channel from AIR over the next 12 months but it is unclear whether Amethi was even on the list.

Reports suggest the transmitter had already arrived in Ajmer when it was moved to Amethi.

AIR has denied made the switch to appease Gandhi, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty which has ruled India for the majority of its post independence history.

But India’s opposition BJP party has accused AIR of “camouflaging” the reason for the last minute move.

Party spokesman Jyoti Kiran told Indian Express: “The Congress government has already lost Rajasthan and has no hope even in the upcoming Lok Sabha (lower house) elections, so it is giving unjustified incentives to Amethi, though they will lose there too.”

Gandhi is the son of the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1984.

His National Congress party has seen support collapse ahead of national elections in May, due to a weak economy, corruption scandals and internal fighting.

All India Radio has a monopoly on the broadcast of news on radio in India.