EC likely to issue notice to Mulayam Singh

NEW DELHI: After facing heat for its advice to BJP not to field Varun Gandhi in the elections for his anti-Muslim speeches, the Election Commission is likely to slap a notice on Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for allegedly threatening a woman poll officer for cancelling arms licenses in Uttar Pradesh.

Taking note of Mulayam's controversial remarks against District Magistrate Ministhy Dileep at the meeting in Mainpuri, the UP electoral officer yesterday forwarded a report along with the CD containing the footage to the Commission.

Yadav had warned that he would register a complaint with the EC against the DM whom he accused of losing her sense of proportion and not being able to differentiate between a criminal and a common man. An angry Yadav had also suggested that she should get her "head checked" and asked her to mend ways within a week.

The SP supremo was already under the EC's scanner for his alleged distribution of money to the people at a Holi function. The EC is yet to decide on Yadav's reply on its notice on the incident.

Slamming the poll body on its action on the Gandhi issue, the BJP alleged that the EC was being "partisan" in targeting Varun Gandhi, while letting off others.

"The leader of Mulayam Singh Yadav's stature directly threatening a Returning Officer is a serious matter. The Election Commission must take suo motu notice and initiate action," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.