EC acting as election office of BJP: Azam Khan

Chandauli, May 11: A defiant

on Sunday escalated his attack on

, alleging that it was acting as an election office of

and also described the elections as "unconstitutional" due to projection of Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate ahead of poll results.

Khan told reporters here that he had responded to the notice of the Commission within prescribed limit, yet ban on his speeches was not lifted. He had been attacking the poll panel since he was banned from campaigning.

"The Commission is openly helping BJP in Elections and giving its service as election office of the BJP. It has become a puppet in the hands of communal forces," the Uttar Pradesh minister said.

Comparing his case-- in which he was censured by EC for his controversial remarks on religious lines-- to that of BJP leader Amit Shah, Khan said, "Shah was allowed to speak even after his comments describing Azamgarh as a 'hub of terrorists' which shows EC is working for BJP."

Indirectly targeting BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the firebrand SP leader said the poll body "should take a note if someone campaigns as a prime minister even before results are announced, as it makes the election process 'unconstitutional'".

"According to our Constitution, elected representatives choose the Prime Minister. If someone is declaring himself as PM to contest elections, then it is unconstitutional, hence these elections are also unconstitutional," he said.

Khan and Modi's aide Amit Shah were banned by the poll panel from holding public meetings, processions or road shows in UP after they made inflammatory speeches. After ban on Shah was lifted by the EC, Khan had accused EC of being biased towards the BJP.

PTI