Election Commission Issues Notice To Rahul Gandhi For TV Interviews
Gujarat poll authorities to lodge FIR against anyone for infringement of legal provisions.
The Election Commission tonight issued a show cause notice to Congress Leader and President-Elect Rahul Gandhi for “prima facie” violating the provisions of the election law and the model code by giving interviews to TV channels in Gujarat where the final phase of polls is due tomorrow.
It asked Gandhi to respond to the notice by Dec. 18 evening, failing which it will decide the matter without any reference to him. The counting of votes in Gujarat is also scheduled on that day.
The notice said the broadcast of his interviews by TV channels fell within the definition of “election matter” under Section 126 (3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and their telecast within 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll amounted to violation of Section 126 (1) (b) of the Act.
“...By giving such interview and its display on TV channels on December 13, you have, prima facie, violated the...provisions of para 1 (4) of the Model Code of Conduct, Section 126 (1) (b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Election Commission’s lawful instructions in this regard,” it said.
The BJP had complained to the poll panel about the interviews.
The Election Commission, in a press statement this evening, had said that it has asked TV channels to “forthwith stop” airing interviews of Gandhi as they violated the election law and directed Gujarat poll authorities to lodge an FIR against anyone for infringement of legal provisions.
It said Gandhi, the Congress president-elect, talked about the Gujarat Assembly elections in which the polling for the second phase will be held tomorrow.
The statement added that after due deliberations, the EC has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat “to initiate necessary action by filing FIR against those who have violated the above mentioned provisions in phase two districts in Gujarat”.
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