EC withdraws show cause notice to Rahul Gandhi for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct

Election Commission has withdrawn its show cause notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during Gujarat elections. It said, the provision under which the notice was issued is now under review.

The poll body also decided to set up a panel to suggest amendments to a provision in the election law barring campaigning 48 hours ahead of polling, following complaints that it has failed to keep pace with information technology. 

The panel said, it will examine these provisions in the prevailing context of communication technologies



and suggest required changes. It said, Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act does not take into account the revolution in communication technology.

The order comes in the wake of controversies over Rahul Gandhi's TV interviews and the release of BJP manifesto in Gujarat after campaigning had ended in the state.

The commission had on December 13 issued the notice to Mr Gandhi for prima facie violating the provisions of the election law and the model code by giving interviews to TV channels in Gujarat during assembly elections in the state.