The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Karnal Ashwini Chopra is in the dock for using the premises of a temple for canvassing.
Returning officer, Karnal, has served a show-cause notice to Chopra and the district BJP president Ashok Sukhija on Sunday.
On March 21, Chopra and the local BJP leaders had allegedly addressed party workers at the Shri Krishna temple complex at Sector 14 here.
Chopra, owner of a Hindi daily published from New Delhi, reportedly addressed the workers in the convention hall built on the rear side of the temple complex.
In fact, the local unit of the BJP regularly uses the temple premises party functions. On Friday, Chopra had even addressed the media there.
Before arriving at the temple, Chopra had held a road show from Namaste Chowk, located on the NH-1 to, Ghanta Ghar chowk in the heart of the city.
On the basis of a field report, the returning officer observed that no prior permission was taken from the district authorities for organising the procession.
"Ashwini Chopra, along with a large number of BJP workers, in a convoy of 30-35 vehicles took out a procession and used the temple complex for political purpose, which is barred under model code of conduct for general elections," reads the show cause notice.
{{/usCountry}}"Ashwini Chopra, along with a large number of BJP workers, in a convoy of 30-35 vehicles took out a procession and used the temple complex for political purpose, which is barred under model code of conduct for general elections," reads the show cause notice.
{{/usCountry}}RO said that Chopra and Sukhija had been given 24 hours to explain, failing which due legal action would be initiated against them.