BSP's Rae Bareli candidate charged with violating poll code

Lucknow, March 21 (IANS) R.S. Kushwaha, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli seat, has been charged with violating the model code of conduct for using mikes without permission, police said Saturday.

A case against Kushwaha has been registered for defying the model code of conduct for using mikes and loudspeakers without the necessary permission to address an election meeting in Mirzapur Aehari village in Rae Bareli, police inspector B.R. Mishra told IANS over telephone.

Kushwaha held the meeting Friday afternoon near a temple in the village in Rae Bareli, 80 km from here, without the permission of the district authorities, said Mishra. He refused to call off the rally when he was told to do so by the police, the official added.

A notice for violating the model code was issued to Kushwaha Friday evening.

'An inquiry has been initiated against Kushwaha following the directives of Sub-divisional Magistrate Chitralekha Singh. A report of the inquiry will soon be sent to the State Election Commission after which necessary action would be taken against the BSP candidate,' said district police chief Tarun Gaba.