New Delhi, Jan 05: The Election Commission today
accused Abhay Chautala, son of Haryana Chief Minister Om
Prakash Chautala, of trying to bribe voters in the poll-bound
state by promising government jobs in violation of model code
of conduct and decided to issue a show cause notice to him as
well as to ruling Indian National Lok Dal seeking an
explanation why action should not be taken against the party.
Acting on a complaint as also a special supplement
advertised in an English daily highlighting the state
government's achievements, the EC also ordered despatch of
a two-member team tomorrow to Chandigarh to inquire into the
matter and submit a report within three days.
The commission felt that the statement Abhay Chautala,
an MLA, with regard to creating or releasing 10,000 jobs or
posts and their filling up between February four and 27 this
year amounted to "alluring the electors by promise of
government jobs and therefore constitutes bribery..." And
violation of the model code of conduct.
The commission has also issued a show cause notice to
INLD asking it to explain why action should not be taken
against it for violation of the model code of conduct since
Abhay Chautala was an important member of the party.
Noting that it had received a complaint alleging that
819 constables and 72 sub-inspectors were being recruited by
the state government, an EC press note said the commission had
called for a report from Haryana Chief Secretary.
The commission was not fully convinced about the
course of events mentioned in the report, it said.
The commission has decided to send Rajesh Aggarwal,
Principal Secretary and Afzal Amanullah, Special Observer of
the commission, to Chandigarh to inquire into the matter and
submit a report within three days.
Bureau Report
