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BJP’s Barmer Lok Sabha candidate denies poll code violation charge to EC, admits on Facebook
During the Prime Minister’s public meeting organised in Barmer on Sunday, some posters displaying photograph of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamn were put up on the routes towards the PM meeting venue
BJP candidate for the Barmer Lok Sabha seat, Kailash Choudhary, who received a notice from the election office for violation of the model code of conduct (MCC), denied the charge in his written reply on Tuesday.
However, on his official Facebook page, Choudhary admitted that his supporters had put up posters of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Barmer on April 21.
During the Prime Minister’s public meeting organised in Barmer on Sunday, some posters displaying photograph of Abhinandan were put up on the routes towards the PM meeting venue. On the posters with the photograph of Abhinandan and a fighter aircraft, a message read: “We are proud of Abhinandan” and “Hearty Congratulation to Abhinandan”.
Taking cognisance in the matter, the district election officer (DEO) of Barmer had issued a show-cause notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kailash Choudhary on April 21. The returning officer for the Barmer parliamentary constituency, Himanshu Gupta mentioned that assistant returning officer informed him that the BJP candidate used the photograph of Abhinandan, along with his own photograph, on the hoardings installed on the routes towards the PM meeting venue, which was violation of the MCC. The election department sought Choudhary’s reply in the matter within two days .
On Tuesday, Choudhary submitted his written reply to the election department.
Gupta, the DEO, said, “In his written reply, the BJP candidate denied the allegation and claimed that it is a conspiracy against him.” Gupta said that they are forwarding the matter to the Election Commission for further action.
However, on his official Facebook page, Choudhary wrote that posters displaying the photograph of Abhinandan were installed by his supporters.
Choudhary on his Facebook page wrote: “Busy with family of Barmer-Jaisalmer during election campaigning. Have known that a banner of Wing Commander Shri Abhinandan is installed by my supporter. I personally respect Abhinandan beyond the politics. I bow to his passion for patriotism. I respect every person who is proud of Abhinandan and not only me, but my whole country is proud on Abhinandan. It is our duty to follow the rules of the Model Code of Conduct during the electoral atmosphere. I respect my supporters and their feelings. Shri Abhinandan is our pride and his patriotism is far above the politics. I appeal to all my supporters to follow the rules.”
When HT tried to contact Choudhary for his reaction, he was not available. His office said that he is campaigning in the rural pockets.
