New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday slapped a notice on Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for alleged distribution of cash by his party workers at a Holi function.
Taking congnisance of video footage, the EC served a notice on the SP leader and sought a reply by March 14, an EC spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the EC has also sought a report from the District Magistrate on the incident.
The Samajwadi Party workers were seen distributing money to people at a Holi celebration organised for SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at Ettawah, his constituency.
SP workers handed out Rs 100 to every person present at the celebration.
When a ruckus broke out during the money distribution, Mulayam himself was seen assuring his supporters that they would all get their share.
“Everyone please be seated. All of you will be rewarded,” Mulayam allegedly told the gathering.
This is not the first time Mulayam is coming under fire for violating the model code of conduct.
In November 2008, the EC had issued a notice to Mulayam, after a Samajwadi Party candidate distributed Rs 100 notes at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Rajanagar.
In April 2007, ahead of the UP Assembly polls, Mulayam was issued another notice by the EC. This time for seeking votes on the basis of caste at a rally in Lalitpur.
What is model code of conduct
This General Election is seeing the highest expenditure ever by political parties.
But the Election Commission has specified that after the model code of conduct has come into effect there will be no more foundation stones and new projects to rake in the votes.
The pre-poll advertising binge has also finally come to an end. The voter now have enough time to work out whether what he's been bombarded with is really true.
So what does the model code really mean? For the government anything which affects the outcome of the polls is out.
This means no more new policy decisions, no ad hoc appointments, no new projects being inaugurated or foundations laid and no using government transport and even accommodation unless its for official work.
However, that doesn't mean that the government comes to a halt.
"Constitutional work will continue," Union Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice, Hansraj Bhardwaj said.
The BJP has warned it will keep a strict watch and point out every violation of the code.
"The Government has been reduced to a caretaker status and its principle job is simply ensuring that day to day work gets done," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said.
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