EC slaps notice on Shinde for breaking poll code

Bangalore, May 10 (UNI) The Election Commission today ordered issuance of a notice to Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for breach of the model code of conduct by announcing a new power project for Karnataka.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Shinde announced that the Union Government would sanction the project to help power starved Karnataka.

The first phase of elections was conducted today in 11 districts, which also included Bangalore city.

EC sources said the Minister had been served a notice for his statement, which was against the model code of conduct, as the Election process for the 224 Assembly seats was already on and first phase poling was held today.

The EC had also strongly objected to a decision by Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur, who had issued a Government Order(GO) paving way for handing over 2200 acres of land to controversial Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Limited, which was developing the Bangalore-Mysore infrastrugture corridor.

Following the EC's objections, Mr Thakur withdrew the Order yesterday.

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