EC failed to function impartially in Rae Bareli:Samajwadi Party

Lucknow, May 13 (UNI) Samajwadi Party today reiterated its charge that the Election Commission (EC) failed to function impartially in the recently concluded Rae Bareli bypoll, which Congress president Sonia Gandhi won by a landslide margin of almost 4.18 lakh votes.

SP national general secretary Beni Prasad Verma claimed the EC directive to lodge a case against Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav for talking about development during the Rae Bareli electioneering was against democracy.

''To promise allocation of funds for development of villages is not a violation of model code of conduct,'' Mr Verma said addressing a news conference here.

The former union minister added if Mr Yadav had announced any new scheme, it could have been amounted to violation.

''However, Mr Yadav did not utter anything objectionable, that could result in lodging of a case against him.'' The SP leader further asserted the EC did not take any steps despite repeated complaints of irregularities in the bypoll by SP.

''In the recent assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Ms Jayalalitha and Mr Karunanidhi had announed to give 4 gms gold and colour TV to voters. Yet, the EC failed to take cognisance,'' Mr Verma alleged.

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