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No violation by Rahul, says Election Commission

J. Balaji

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) has said Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi did not violate any poll code while filing his nomination from Amethi at Sultanpur on Saturday.

The complaint was that he took many of his followers and supporters with him while filing the papers.

The U.P. Chief Electoral Officer, who asked the Sultanpur District Election Officer (DEO) to inquire into the complaint, got a report from the latter stating that there was no code violation by Mr. Gandhi, Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) R. Balakrishnan told journalists here on Tuesday. The report said only five people had accompanied him.

The Commission has asked the Andhra Pradesh CEO to send the CD and report on the alleged “violent speech” made by Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas at Nizamabad a few days ago. According to reports, Mr. Srinivas allegedly threatened to cut the head and chop off the fingers of persons who tried to harm the Muslim minorities.

On the hate speech allegation against Congress Minority Cell Chairman Imraan Kidwai in Chandigarh, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Commission had asked the Chandigarh CEO to file a case against him and also censured Mr. Kidwai. It got a reply from the Congress for the notice issued to it in this regard. The Commission asked the party to advise its speakers/candidates to show restraint while making speeches. The DEC said the Commission had received a CD and report from the Maharashtra CEO on the alleged distribution of money by the brother of Samajwadi Party nominee for the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency Abu Asim Azmi to SP supporters.

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