BJP urges EC not to ban live telecast of Modi's rallies

New Delhi, Oct 12: BJP today urged the Election Commission not to ban live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rallies in Bihar as demanded by the rival grand alliance.

"The Commission assured us that the live telecast will not be banned," Union minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi claimed after the meeting.

He said the BJP delegation told the Commission that by banning live telecast, voters of constituencies which are yet to go to polls would not be able to listen to the senior party leader who is leading BJP's election campaign.

A memorandum submitted by the delegation alleged that by seeking a ban on life telecast the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance was trying to "attack democratic values".

The delegation also demanded a CBI probe into the sting operation which showed Bihar minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha allegedly accepting bribe.

Kushwaha, who held the portfolios of Urban Development and Registration, Excise and Prohibition departments, had yesterday resigned from the Nitish Kumar cabinet after a video went viral on social networking sites where he was purportedly shown accepting money from a Mumbai-based businessman in return of favours.

The Commission has already asked income tax authorities to investigate the case.

The 'mahagathbandhan' or grand alliance consisting of Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress had yesterday approached the Commission seeking a ban on live telecast of Modi's poll rallies in Bihar on the ground it could influence voters of constituencies going to poll today.

Voting for the first phase of 5-stage Bihar Assembly election is being held today. Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Bhabua near Sasaram today.

PTI