The Hindu : Front Page : Election panel pulls up Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 02, 2006
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Front Page

Election panel pulls up Minister

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday censured Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy for visiting the Chamundeswari Assembly Constituency in Mysore district in a Honda City car without the Commission's label affixed on it. The constituency goes to the elections on December 4.

The Commission issued show-cause notice to the Minister on November 29 for alleged violation of the model code of conduct for travelling by a private car.

Minister's reply

The Minister sent a reply the next day stating that he did not travel by the car and that he was only dropped at the village.

He said that this did not amount to violation of the model code of conduct.

In its order sent on Friday evening, the Commission rejected the explanation and said even if the Minister had been dropped in a private car, travelling in the vehicle without commission's label amounted to violation of the model code of conduct.

While censuring the Minister for such violation, the Commission asked him to be careful in future.

The Commission made it clear that the expenses relating to the travel in the private car would be included in the candidate's election expenses.

On Wednesday, the Commission had reprimanded Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for violating the model code of conduct.

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