New Delhi, January 5
The Election Commission today issued show-cause notices to the Indian National Lok Dal and party leader Abhey Chautala for violating the Model Code of Conduct and threatened to derecognise the party for violating the code.
Taking cognizance of the job promise made by INLD leader Abhey Chautala, the commission said his statement amounted to “alluring the electors by promise of government jobs and therefore constitutes bribery.”
“The commission has decided to issue a show-cause notice to Abhey Chautala as to why action should not be taken against him for his conduct,” the poll panel said.
Addressing a poll rally in Batra Dharamshala, he had stated that the incumbent government would be creating/releasing 10,000 jobs/posts and these would be filled during the period from February 4 to February 27.
The elections to the Haryana Assembly are scheduled for February 3.
The poll panel said since the party was responsible for its members’ conduct, the statement constituted a violation of the code by the party as it amounted to the announcement of new recruitments during the period of code, thereby trying to allure the electors to vote for the party.
It said the commission was issuing a show-cause notice to the INLD to explain why action should not be taken against the party for violating the code.
On the complaint of alleged recruitment and appointment of 819 constables and 72 sub-inspectors by the Haryana Government, the commission said it was sending a two-member team tomorrow to inquire into the incident.
The team of officers comprising Rajesh Aggarwal, Principal Secretary-cum-Director in the commission, and Afzal Amanullah, Special Observer of the commission for Haryana, would inquire into the matter and submit a report within three days.
The poll panel expressed dissatisfaction with the report of the state Chief Secretary, who had been called upon by the commission to inquire into the incident.
“The commission was not fully convinced about the course of events mentioned in the report. The commission has, therefore, decided to send a team of officers,” it said.
On the special supplement highlighting the achievements of the Haryana Government published after the announcement of Assembly elections, the poll panel said it was not fully satisfied with the report by the Chief Secretary, who had been asked to inquire into the incident.
Therefore, the commission was sending a two-member team to inquire into the matter and report within three days, it said.
