The Election Commission has served a show cause notice to Maharashtra Congress asking it to explain its stand on the advertisement highlighting former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan signing files in the capacity of the post he held.
The Congress has contended that the gesture in the advertisement was just 'notional' and has also conceded to add a disclaimer if the EC still has objection.
The TV Commercial, in which the former chief minister has been depicted as the leader with the clean image and responsible to take the state to number 1 position, has been considered as one of the hit elections commercials.
Chavan ends up signing a file in capacity of chief minister in the advertisement. The opposition has opposed to the gesture as Chavan no more occupies the post after presidential rule was imposed in the state on September 28.
After Shiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar of raised the issue by writing to the EC early this week, the Commission served a notice to Congress two days ago. It asked the party to explain its stand on the advertisement.
Waikar complained that the TVC has been misguiding the voters and it should be immediately withdrawn. "Why should he portray himself as the CM, when he has resigned from the post? This influences the voters in a wrong way," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Waikar complained that the TVC has been misguiding the voters and it should be immediately withdrawn. "Why should he portray himself as the CM, when he has resigned from the post? This influences the voters in a wrong way," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Congress, however, has claimed that it would not withdraw the advertisement. "The gesture is just 'notional' and based on the fact that he was the CM till just a few days back. There is no use of any emblem or the government symbols in it. The advertisement was approved by the EC before its telecast on the regional TV channels. We have explained in our reply submitted to the EC today that if needed a disclaimer would be carried along with the TVC. There is no question of its withdrawal," said party spokesperson Raju Waghmare,.
An officer from the EC said that his office has served the notice and the reply was expected by Saturday evening.