NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Defying Election Commission's directive, Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya today joined electioneering in Pratapgarh even as he challenged in the High Court the Commission's ban on his entry into his home constituency till Lok Sabha elections were over. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh claimed in Lucknow his government had not received any directive from the Commission and said the Programme Implementation Minister was campaigning for party candidates in the constituency.Reacting, Deputy Election Commissioner Subas Pani said the Election Commission would take note of Kalyan Singh's remark.
``The Commission will take note of it,'' he told newspersons here when asked whether the minister's presence in Pratapgarh in defiance of its directive was a violation of the Commission's model code of conduct. The Allahabad High Court, acting on Bhaiya's petition, asked the Commission to produce a copy of its order in this regard.
A Division Benchcomprising Justices Brijesh Kumar and A S Gill listed the petition for hearing tomorrow.
The deputy election commissioner said ``We will not say anything more at this moment.''
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill on Monday said the Uttar Pradesh government had reported compliance of its order debarring the minister from Pratapgarh district till elections were over.
The matter was closed as Bhaiya left the constituency, he said. Counsel for Raja Bhaiya, former advocate general R N Trivedi challenged the authority of the EC to issue such an order and sought to know under which law the petitioner had been asked to withdraw from Pratapgarh.
Under the Constitution, the Commission had no power to extern anyone, Trivedi contended.
Referring to the incidents of fracas with the policemen and supporters of Congress nominee from Pratapgarh constituency, Trivedi argued that it did not relate to any matter concerning the election .
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
