Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Congress’ Kangra candidate Pawan Kajal booked for poll code violation

The issue pertains to distribution of pamphlets and calendars by Congress’ Kangra candidate Pawan Kajal in his rallies at Sulah, Shahpur and Jaisinghpur.

Congress candidate from Kangra Pawan Kajal was booked for poll code violation on Wednesday. A case under Sections 125 and 127-A of the Representation of People’s Act was lodged against Kajal.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India December 18: Congress candidate Pawan Kajal from Kangra wins Himachal assembly election, Shimla on Monday, December 18 2017. HT File Photo (HT File Photo)

The issue pertains to distribution of pamphlets and calendars by Kajal in his rallies at Sulah, Shahpur and Jaisinghpur.

Flying squad teams of election commission (EC), in their report to the Kangra returning officer (RO) Sandeep Kumar, had maintained that the pamphlets and calendars, distributed by Kajal, did not have a printline (publisher’s information) while the name of publisher was fictitious in some.

The flying squad team had maintained that the content in some pamphlets contained caste-based messages that was a violation of the code of conduct.

The RO sought a legal opinion on the complaint after which the permission was sought from chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state to register a case under Section 127 of the Representation of People’s Act.

The SEC had order the registration of a case against Kajal on Monday. However, the case was registered on Wednesday.

SP Santosh Patial admitted that the case had been registered at Dharamsala police station against Kajal.

Meanwhile, Kajal said he was not aware that the pamphlets were distributed without the required information, regarding the publisher, as his supporters had got them printed on their own.

Talking to media, the Congress candidate also said that the BJP was trying to politically victimise him by spreading false information.