New Delhi:
Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal's deadline to reply to the Election Commission's notice ends today. Mr Jaiswal is likely to defend himself by saying that his statement has been presented out of context.
Mr Jaiswal had, after casting his vote in Kanpur in the 5th phase of polling on Thursday, said that if the Congress doesn't get a majority in the UP elections, there will be no option but to impose President's Rule. The Election Commission slapped a notice on the minister on Friday asking why action should not be taken against him.
"The commission is, prima facie, satisfied that Shri Sri Prakash Jaiswal, by making the aforesaid uncalled for statement has attempted to threaten the voters of districts going for poll in 6th and 7th phases either to vote for his party i.e. INC, or face imposition of President Rule in Uttar Pradesh and has thus violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code of Conduct," the poll panel notice served on him said.
The show cause notice asked the minister why action should not be initiated against him.
The poll panel action comes in the wake of complaints received by it from BJP and Samajwadi Party, charging Mr Jaiswal with violating the Model Code and for threatening the voters of Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Jaiswal had, after casting his vote in Kanpur in the 5th phase of polling on Thursday, said that if the Congress doesn't get a majority in the UP elections, there will be no option but to impose President's Rule. The Election Commission slapped a notice on the minister on Friday asking why action should not be taken against him.
"The commission is, prima facie, satisfied that Shri Sri Prakash Jaiswal, by making the aforesaid uncalled for statement has attempted to threaten the voters of districts going for poll in 6th and 7th phases either to vote for his party i.e. INC, or face imposition of President Rule in Uttar Pradesh and has thus violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code of Conduct," the poll panel notice served on him said.
The show cause notice asked the minister why action should not be initiated against him.
The poll panel action comes in the wake of complaints received by it from BJP and Samajwadi Party, charging Mr Jaiswal with violating the Model Code and for threatening the voters of Uttar Pradesh.
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