EC notice to Shinde for promising power project to Karnataka

Federal Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde is finding himself in a bind after the Election Commission slapped him with a notice for violating the election code of conduct by promising to sanction a major power project to Karnataka if the Congress is voted to power in the ensuing assembly elections.

Hours after Shinde announced at a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday that the Federal Government would sanction a 4,000 mega watt project to Karnataka if the Congress comes to power, State Chief Electoral Officer M N Vidyashankar termed the Federal Minister’s assurance as a “clear case of violation of the model code of conduct”.

Vidyashankar said the Election Commission has sent a notice to the Congress party office in Bangalore, where Shinde made the statement. “He has been asked to reply within 48 hours. We will initiate action after he replies”, Vidyashankar said adding that the Federal Minister’s statement was a violation of Section 126 of Representation of People’s Act 1951.

However, Shinde told reporters on Sunday that has not yet received the Election Commission’s notice. “I will send my reply soon after I receive the notice”, he told reporters yesterday.

Shinde said he had no intention to violate the election code of conduct by making the statement. The assurance to sanction a major power project to Karnataka was made in the light of the delay in the execution of the 4,000 Tadadi project in Uttara Kannada on account of environmental concerns.

Also, the erstwhile coalition Government of JD (S)-BJP had dragged its feet on the issue. While the mega power projects in the rest of south Indian states were being executed briskly, the power projects in Karnataka had been delayed. “My statement had been made in this context”, he said.