UP Polls: EC says no to Uma Bharti's rath yatra

Lucknow, Feb 1: The Election Commission declined to give permission to BJP leader Uma Bharti to take out a rath yatra in the state capital as it did not fulfil certain formalities.

"Permission was not granted as the party failed to submit a certificate from the regional transport office or an affidavit that it conforms to the Motor Vehicle Act," Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told PTI.

He said that as per the EC directive a certificate from the RTO office or an affidavit was mandatory for vehicles being used in electioneering. This technical aspect has been communicated to the party and permission would be granted once the certificate is submitted, he said. Bharti was slated to campaign in different parts of the city using the rath.

BJP national president Nitin Gadkari said the rath would reach villages to create public awareness on a corruption-free state.

BJP