EC's show cause notice to Akhilesh for bribery remark

NEW DELHI: After Arvind Kejriwal and Manohar Parrikar, it is now the turn of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to face the ire of the Election Commission over bribery remarks.

The Samajwadi Party supremo was today served with a showcase notice for reportedly asking voters in Bhadhoi on March 4 to accept money but vote for the cycle, his party's election symbol.

Prime facie finding him guilty of violating the model code, the Commission asked him to respond by March 7 as to why action should not be taken against him.

According to the Commission's notice, Yadav had asked voters to accept money from other parties, but vote for the 'bicycle' symbol of the ruling Samajwadi Party.

"I (have) heard that voters are being given money. My advice to you is to keep the money with yourself and vote for the bicycle," Akhilesh had said.

The poll watchdog reminded him that bribery and abetment of bribery of voters is a penal offence.