The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice, returnable by 11 a.m. on Monday (October 28), to Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment P. Balram Naik for alleged violation of poll code in force in Madhya Pradesh.
In a notice issued to the minister on Friday, the Commission said that Mr. Naik had announced a grant of Rs.10-20 crore for construction of hostels for the OBC students when he was addressing a political gathering on October 16 at the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Shivaji Nagar area of Bhopal.
“If no reply is received within the prescribed time limit, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say and the Commission will proceed to take appropriate action without any further reference to you,” the notice said.
The poll to the 230 member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly is scheduled for November 25 and the poll notification will be issued on November 1.
