Poll panel seeks report on cash dole by Congress MP

Lucknow, March 13 (IANS) Taking note of TV footage showing Varanasi MP Rajesh Misra of the Congress offering money to people in his constituency, the Election Commission Friday sought a report from the district magistrate.

'No sooner than I came to know that the Varanasi sitting MP was seen distributing notes to local people, I asked the Varanasi DM to get the matter inquired into and submit his report promptly,' Uttar Pradesh Chief Election Officer A.K. Bishnoi told reporters here.

'I will send the DM's report to the Election Commission to seek further directions.'

The footage came close on the heels of another TV clipping that had captured a Samajwadi Party worker distributing currency notes of Rs.100 among people at a function chaired by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Etawah Thursday.

While Samajwadi Party has been asked to give its clarification by Saturday, the Varanasi district magistrate has been directed to submit his report within 24 hours.