EC serves notice on Prahlad Singh Patel for violating MCC

New Delhi, Nov 25 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) today issued a showcause notice to former MP Prahlad Singh Patel for violating the Model Code of Conduct and asked him to explain his position by tomorrow.

The EC questioned as to why an action should not be taken against the MP for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making speeches on caste lines to attract voters in support of his party candidates at the Narsinghpur Assembly Constituency of Madhya Pradesh on November 19.

According to the EC, the commission served the notice following a written complaint from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), MP yesterday.

The MCC guidelines very clearly states that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes and Para 1(4) of the Model Code of Conduct, inter-alia, specifically states that all parties and candidates shall not make any appeal on caste or religious grounds and shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are ''corrupt practices'' and offences under the election laws.

The Commission further says that it has sought an explanation from Manish Singh, IAS, DM-cum Deputy Election Officer (DEO), Narsinghpur for not intimating the Commission about the incident till November 24, when the election meeting had taken place on November 19.

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