BJP questions UP electoral official action on chai pe charcha

BANGALORE: BJP today questioned electoral authorities banning free tea service at the 'chai pe charcha' event of Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh but not putting a stop to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's "Rs 20,000 per person dinner party" to be hosted here during his visit this weekend.

"When the new party is hosting a dinner party, costing Rs 20,000 per plate, and is not under the EC challenge, then questioning the party (BJP) is definitely something, which I suspect. Either both have to be banned, or nothing can be done," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters here.

Dubbing BJP's much-touted 'chai pe charcha' programme as just another way to bribe voters, which violates the model code of conduct, UP's CEO Umesh Sinha had issued directions to stop serving free tea at such meetings.