Sena MP Sanjay Raut in soup over ‘tampering EVM’ remark, gets notice for poll code violation
The notice was sent in response to Raut’s article in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, which the district election officer deemed as muddying the electoral process
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has been served a notice by the district election officer of Mumbai over his remark against CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, in alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
In an article published in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Sunday, Raut said that Kumar should be defeated in the elections even if it means the BJP has to “tamper with EVMs”. The Sena MP is the editor of the Marathi daily.
Kumar, the former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s student union, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha poll from Begusarai in Bihar.
In his column ‘Rok Thok’ in the daily, Raut also said that Kumar, “a bottle of poison”, must not reach Parliament.
Following his remarks, the Rajya Sabha MP was sent notice on Monday, asking him to respond to it by Wednesday. Further action in the matter will be decided by the Election Commission.
Mumbai city collector Shivaji Jondhale, who is the district election officer, in the notice, said Raut’s statement showed “lack of faith in the deployment of EVMs and muddying the electoral process”.
Rault, meanwhile, has said that he intends to respond to the notice to clarify his stand.
“I have received the notice based on what I have written in ‘Saamana’. We respect the EC and I will respond to the notice and clarify my stand in the time provided,” he was quoted as saying.
Ahead of the crucial polls, police and flying squads have been on high alert to seize any unaccounted cash, gold, drugs or liquor that can be used to sway voters.
So far, they have seized cash and other items worth Rs 75.78 crore across Maharashtra since the enforcement of the model code of conduct on March 10.
