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EC show-cause to Arun Jaitley

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday issued notice to BJP leader Arun Jaitley, asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for allegedly soliciting support for a party candidate using his official letter pad, bearing the national emblem, as member of the Rajya Sabha.

The Commission, which asked Mr. Jaitley to send his reply by 5 p.m., Saturday, said that under the model code of conduct, “Appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language; or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of or appeal to the national symbol such as the national flag or the national emblem, for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate shall be a corrupt practice.”

The Election Commission received a complaint, enclosing a copy of the appeal issued by Mr. Jaitley, using his official pad with the national emblem, appealing to electors of the 59-Vishwas Nagar constituency to vote for Om Prakash Sharma in Saturday’s Delhi Assembly elections.

“If no reply is received by the stipulated time, it will be presumed that he has no explanation to give in the matter and the Commission will take appropriate action without giving him any further opportunity in the matter,” the notice said.

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