New Delhi: Under pressure from the Election Commission, the BJP is expected to take a decision on the EC order on its Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi at its Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday.
The party has so far refrained from giving its considered reaction to the EC order which has severely indicted Varun for his anti-Muslim speeches and recommended BJP not to field him as a candidate in the Lok Sabha polls.
Sources say some members of the BJP have hit out at the EC, saying the charges are based on Election Commissioner Navin Chawla's proximity to the Gandhi family.
"We all know the proximity between Naveen Chawla with the Gandhi family. If he's guilty, action will be taken. But the CD seems doctored," says senior BJP leader Balbir Punj.
The party also maintains that EC's decision on Varun Gandhi is a result of the strained ties between Sonia and Maneka Gandhi
The CEC meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon when the issue is expected to come up, after which the party is likely to come out with a statement on the issue, BJP sources said.
BJP spokesman Balbir Punj has said that 29-year-old Varun should be given a chance to explain his position before he is declared guilty.
According to BJP's Prakash Javdekar, it was not the EC's job to decide as to who should contest the polls and any action with regard to someone's candidature could be taken only by the courts.
The EC said Varun had violated election laws after looking into CDs of the purported hate-speech made by him in Pilibhit.
According to Section 153 of Constitution, the EC is empowered only to recommend action, not take it on its own.
Comments
0 comment