On the eve of hearing on the issue of BJP’s controversial CD containing "inflammatory" material for the party campaign in UP Assembly elections, Election Commission has decided to treat a similar complaint against chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as "closed". The panel is likely to give its ruling, on Thursday, on the BJP’s objection to the Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla’s presence in the CD case hearing.
The development pertaining to Mulayam’s case took place after the panel expressed its satisfaction on his reply to the EC’s notice on a complaint that the Samajwadi Party leader had indulged in "corrupt practice” by seeking votes on caste basis. "The EC has decided to close the case after studying Mulayam’s reply to the notice," deputy election commissioner R Balakrishnan said here on Wednesday.
Referring to Mulayam’s reply, he said the CM had explained the context in which he mentioned the name of particular community during his election speech. As per Mulayam’s explanation, there was an enmity between two communities in the particular area and he referred to the community and asked to them raise their hands to ensure that everyone was present in the meeting.
In reply to a question on Mulayam's alleged threat to UP policemen that they either follow his diktat or face action in the event of SP returning to power, Balakrishnan said the Commission had also received a report which was being looked into. "The Commission is considering the content of his speech", he said.
{{/usCountry}}In reply to a question on Mulayam's alleged threat to UP policemen that they either follow his diktat or face action in the event of SP returning to power, Balakrishnan said the Commission had also received a report which was being looked into. "The Commission is considering the content of his speech", he said.
{{/usCountry}}On another development relating to the distribution of a booklet by the BSP which allegedly contained casteist references, he said that the Commission had seen the newspaper report. " No formal complaint has been received by the EC. But we will look into that,” Balakrishnan said.