Trouble for Parkash Singh Badal for Allegedly Soliciting Poll Funds Secretly

New Delhi: Continuing with its crackdown on politicians violating the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission (EC) today asked Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to come clean on his statement exhorting people to donate money "surreptitiously, and not openly," to circumvent the ceiling on poll expenses.

"Crores are spent on campaigning, though we show less in expenditure details; give quietly, don't donate openly," Mr Badal had allegedly exhorted while addressing a rally in Jalandhar on April 12. (India Votes 2014: Full coverage)

The state Congress unit pounced on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader's remarks, and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, drawing its attention to the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. (Narendra Modi, other BJP big guns in top 10 contests)

The Commission found merit in the complaint, maintaining that his remarks were in contravention of provisions of the Representation of People's Act, 1951, and asked the Punjab chief minister to respond to its showcause notice by Friday evening.

"Whereas, the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement you have violated the above said provision of Model Code of Conduct and also incited others to violate the law," the Election Commission observed in its notice, adding, "Now, therefore, the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in making the above said statement before 5 pm on May 2, 2014, failing which the ECI shall take a decision without further reference to you."

The Commission had earlier in the day directed the Gujarat police to file a case against Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, for holding a press conference outside a polling booth in Ahmedabad after casting his vote.

"It is evident from Modi's tone and tenor that he made a political speech. He intended, calculated to influence voting today," the Election Commission said.