EC Slaps Show-cause Notice on Lalu Prasad Yadav

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission today slapped a show cause notice on RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying prima facie he had violated the model code of conduct by allegedly making casteist remarks in the run up to Bihar assembly polls.

"...the Commission is, prima facie, of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statements, you have violated the... provisions of Model Code of Conduct...the Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in making the above said statements on or before 3 pm of October 6, 2015, failing which the ECI shall take a decision without further reference to you," the notice said.

An FIR was lodged against Lalu on Tuesday in Bihar for allegedly making casteist remarks. Launching his campaign from Raghopur, the RJD supremo had described the assembly elections as a direct fight between "the backward castes and forward castes" and gave a call to Yadavs and other backward castes to rally behind the secular alliance to defeat BJP-led NDA.

While issuing the notice, the EC reminded him that "promoting feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language"  is an electoral offence under section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and also an offence under section 153A and section 505(2) of the IPC.

The notice is based on a report submitted to the EC by Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Naik.