Election Commission lets off Babulal Marandi with warning

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission today let off former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi with a "warning" for making a "deemed appeal" to pastors and bishops of various churches in Dumka for support in the Lok Sabha elections.

Not satisfied with his reply to the show cause notice, the Commission asked him to be careful in future.

"....The Commission hereby warns him and advises him to be careful in future," the EC order said.

The poll body had issued the notice to Marandi based on the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Jharkhand and a complaint lodged by a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader.

The notice had said that the Commission "has received report dated April 20, 2014 of CEO Jharkhand enclosing complaint....that you have made an written appeal dated April 13, 2014 to all churches in Dumka stating a quote from Holy Bible (and) making a deemed appeal for support from all bishops, pastors, brothers and sisters in Christ from Dumka Lok Sabha seat."

The EC said Marandi, leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (P), has violated a clause in the Model Code of Conduct which states that "there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes."

Marandi is a candidate from the Dumka seat which went for polls on April 24.