The Election Commission Sundayconveyed its unhappiness to the Centre over announcement ofits direct cash transfer scheme when the Model Code in poll-bound Gujarat is in force and sought a report by tomorrowevening.
The EC also warned of appropriate action if thegovernment's reply to its letter does not come by then.
In a strongly-worded letter to Cabinet Secretary AjitSeth, the EC expressed its unhappiness over the timing of theannouncement by the Government and said it could have beenavoided in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections later thismonth.
"We have asked the Cabinet Secretary to give us a factualreport on the issue by Monday evening and if we do not get areply we will proceed with action," a top official of theElection Commission told PTI.
Incidentally, four of the 51 districts in which the cashtransfer scheme is to be implemented from January 1 next fallin Gujarat.
Sources said the EC's fresh letter to the CabinetSecretary was the second reminder in the matter.
The Gujarat unit of BJP had on Thursday petitioned thepoll body in this case, alleging a serious violation of theModel Code of Conduct.
A day later, top party leaders led by L K Advani hadpersonally met the Chief Election Commissioner to complainagainst the announcement.
The government had in a major announcement here claimedthe scheme as a "game-changer", with Finance Minister PChidamabaram and Rural Development Minister Jairam Rameshpersonally launching the scheme from the Congress headquartershere.
After complaining to the EC, Advani had said that suchannouncements should not be made by a government once electiondates have been declared.
"There has been announcement of direct cash transfer...
The states where elections are due should have been excluded.
They (government) could not have done it under the (election)code of conduct," Advani had said.
Gujarat goes to polls in two phases on December 13 and 17and the Model Code is in force in the state.