EC dissatisfied with AAP’s response to showcause notice over protest outside BJP office

Hari Hara Mishra, theindianrepublic.com, 11 March 2014: Trouble seems to be brewing for Arvind Kejriwal led – Aam Aadmi Party, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as the Election Commission of India has finalised its report on the AAP supporters protesting outside BJP office in Delhi. It is highly likely that the probe might blame the AAP for violating the model code of conduct.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s report has exhibited great levels of dissatisfaction over AAP’s response to the showcause notice that had been sent to AAP by EC. On Friday, the AAP replied that the protest was an ‘instant reaction’ to the party convener’s detention Gujarat.

In response to the Election Commission’s showcause notice, the AAP had mentioned that the protest was not a planned event. They said that the party respects the Model Code of Conduct that had been enforced. However, the protest was simply an instant reaction to the series of events that occurred in Gujarat.

AAP’s general secretary Pankaj Gupta had filed the reply to the showcause notice. AAP, in its response, also assured the Election Commision that it will cooperate with the Election Commission in implementing the model code of conduct.

Ameya Abhiyankar, the DEO, to whom the response had been submitted, confirmed that he had received the response and the response is under examination. He said that he would send the reports for the same to the Election Commission.

AAP had been asked to revert on the notice within 24 hours of its issuance, stating reasons on why actions should not be initiated against it for holding the protest without permission from poll officials and violating the poll code of conduct.

In a related development, Delhi Police had in its report accused Aam Aadmi Party protesters of indulging in “riotous acts and using criminal force” to prevent it from discharging their duty with regard to Wednesday’s protest that had turned violent.