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EC notice to Advani, 6 BJP candidates

Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR: Seven BJP candidates in Gujarat, including the party’s prime ministerial nominee, L.K. Advani, have been issued notice for allegedly resorting to political activities at religious gatherings.

District election officers issued the notice as per the guidelines on the model code of conduct on religious affairs, say informed sources.

The candidates, including the party’s former State unit president, Rajendrasinh Rana, who contested from Bhavnagar, were told that the expenses for “Mantranaad,” purported to have been organised for religious purposes, would be included in the permissible limits of expenses allowed per candidate.

“Mantranaad” was organised in various districts just before or during the Lok Sabha elections under the banner of “Art of Living” of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Though the discourses and yogic exercises taught in the camps were aimed at making a person’s living joyful, Swami Mahesh Giri, one of the close disciples of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the chief teacher of “Art of Living,” allegedly used the platform to appeal to the gathering to vote for the BJP.

The seven candidates were said to have attended “Mantranaad” functions.

Mr. Advani allegedly attended a “Mantranaad” event at the Karnavati Club in Ahmedabad, which comes under the Gandhinagar constituency, a couple of days before the polling on April 30.

The sources said several candidates objected to the levy of expenses claiming that they went to the functions only to seek Swami Mahesh Giri’s blessings.

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