SEC notice to state minister Mahadev Jankar

The minister is allegedly heard saying the application filed by a Congress candidate must be rejected

The state election commission on Monday issued a notice to state dairy development and fisheries minister and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) chief Mahadev Jankar over a leaked video, flashed on TV channels, in which he is reportedly seen instructing an election officer to reject an application filed by a Congress candidate in the recently concluded municipal council polls. The minister has been asked to explain his stand on the issue within 24 hours.

Mahadev Jankar has refuted the allegations (HT File Photo)

The candidature in question is for the Vadasa municipal council election which was scheduled on December 18. RSP is the smaller ally of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Jankar was recently inducted into the state cabinet.

“Submit your explanation or further steps will be taken by the commission on the basis of the documents and evidence available with us,” the notice states. The SEC has also asked the Gadchiroli collector to submit his report.

The video allegedly shows Jankar talking on the phone, instructing the person on the other end (alleged to be the returning officer of Gadchiroli district in Vidarbha) to give an election symbol of his choice [cup and saucer] to his party candidate. The minister is also allegedly heard saying the application filed by a Congress candidate be rejected.

Jankar has refuted the allegations. “I have not threatened the officer, but requested him to allot the symbol to our party. The candidate has not been given official candidature by the Congress and so I requested the officer to validate his candidature as an independent,” he said.

The Opposition is expected to raise the issue in both the houses of legislature in the next two days. Congress leader Narayan Rane said threatening election officer was a serious offence and the party will raise it in the house. The party also submitted a memorandum to the state election commission, seeking a case of violation of code of conduct be registered against the minister.

“Repeated attempts of violation of the model code of conduct by the ruling party are coming to the fore, but no action is taken against them. We have filed a case against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for violation of the code in Pen a few weeks ago. The Congress will hold a protest march, if no action is taken against the ruling party leaders,” Congress has stated in the memorandum submitted to the SEC.