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Poll panel sends notice to senior BJP leader, transfers officials
The Election Commission on Monday issued notice to V.K. Malhotra, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for Delhi chief minister, for violating instructions on the number of people and vehicles that accompanied him when he went to file his nomination.
- By Ajay Jha, Correspondent and IANS
- Published: 00:11 November 11, 2008
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Monday issued notice to V.K. Malhotra, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for Delhi chief minister, for violating instructions on the number of people and vehicles that accompanied him when he went to file his nomination.
The Election Commission of India said in a statement that the notice was issued for "violation of standing instructions regarding maximum number of vehicles permitted within periphery of 100 metres of returning officer and persons inside the chamber while filing his nomination papers".
The commission also ordered the immediate transfer of Greater Kailash returning officer Bans Raj Ram, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Puspender Kumar and Sub-Inspector K.L. Yadav for failure to implement the orders.
They also sought an explanation from Deputy Commissioner Faizi Hashemi and Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) over the incident.
Chief minister
Malhotra, who is contesting from the Greater Kailash constituency and filed his nomination with the returning office in Jamnagar House in Shahjahan Road on Saturday, denied the charges.
"I don't know why it is being done. When I went to the Returning Officer there were only two persons with me - my wife Krishna and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan.
"There were no cars in front or behind my car. I will reply to it [the notice]," Malhotra told reporters.
Malhotra has been asked to send his reply to the Election Commission by today. The Election Commission has said the maximum number of vehicles allowed to come within the periphery of 100 metres of the returning officer's chamber is three. The maximum number of persons allowed in at the time of filing of nomination is the candidate plus four others.
Meanwhile, Sheila Dikshit, who has been the Delhi chief minister for 10 years, yesterday filed her nomination from the New Delhi constituency and declared moveable and immovable assets of over Rs13 million (Dh1.08 million).
Accompanied by hundreds of cheering supporters, Dikshit filed the nomination at Jamnagar House in Shahjahan Road. Delhi will hold the assembly polls on November 29.
Meanwhile, the Left Front may go back on its promise of supporting Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati for the country's next prime minister.
Instead, it would prefer giving issue-based support to old ally Congress party if it becomes necessary after next year's general election.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) politburo is expected to deliberate on this vital issue when it meets in the national capital towards the end of this month.
According to indications available, the Left Front would not even insist on naming someone other than incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the top post in lieu of its support.
In what appears to be a course correction after the Left Front decided to withdraw its support to the Singh government due to differences over the India-US civil nuclear deal in July this year, the Left Front has veered around to the view that Singh would be far better compared to Mayawati due to her autocratic style of functioning.
"Compared to Mayawati, Manmohan Singh is anytime better. Anyway, if at all, we will give support to the government and it would be up to the Congress party to decide who will head the government," said a member of the CPM politburo.
Soon after its withdrawal of support, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat had propped up Mayawati as a possible prime ministerial candidate and even got some allies to endorse her.
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