EC to write to BJP on Ashok Chavan's reply on paid news issue

The Election Commission has decided to write to the BJP in the wake of the reply of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who has been accused by the party of having encouraged "paid news" before the assembly polls in the state last year.

The Election Commission has decided to write to the BJP in the wake of the reply of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who has been accused by the party of having encouraged "paid news" before the assembly polls in the state last year.

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"We are writing to the complainant (BJP) following the Chief Minister's reply," EC sources said on Wednesday.

The Commission had issued a notice to Chavan after BJP leaders complained that he had spent money on "paid news" in the media and that he did not account for that in his poll expenditure accounts. He was asked to reply by February 1.

In his reply submitted recently to the EC, Chavan denied the allegations that he paid for media coverage in the run up to the polls.

The Chief Minister, who was elected from Bhokar in Nanded district in the October assembly elections, has pointed out to the EC that his election expenditure was approved by the District Election Officer.