JD(U) complains about candidates publishing advt as news items

New Delhi, Apr 19 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav today met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy and complained about violation of the model code of conduct in Uttar Pradesh where, he said candidates were misusing the print media by getting the advertisements published in the form of 'news items'.

Mr Yadav told newspersons here that during his campaigning in the state, he found that some small newspapers were publishing items in favour of particular candidates in the form of news and somewhere in photograph mentioned 'advt', which generally remain invisible.

Lauding the EC for reducing the poll expenditure, he said these newspapers were now 'looting the candidates.' This was not only violation of model code of conduct but also meant to mislead the voters, he charged.

The JD(U) president said the Chief Election Commissioner agreed that it was a violation of model code of conduct and the Commission would investigate the matter and take measures to stop it.

Mr Yadav, who addressed 60 public meetings while campaigning in UP for the BJP-JD (U) coalition, said the three phases of polls in the state have shown that BJP-JD (U) and BSP were in neck in neck fight and soon the balance would tilt in favour of their coalition.

He said the Commission has done a commendable job in the ongoing assembly polls as all the mafia and criminal elements have been sidelined and poor people have been able to vote.

He, however, regretted that sugarcane farmers were suffering as there was no one to buy their product. In the absence of an effective government, industrialists were exploiting these farmers, he said.

MORE UNI