EC clean chit to Orissa on Posco's PL recommendation

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today made it clear that there was no violation of election code of conduct in the matters pertaining to recommendation of prospecting license (PL) in favour of Posco.

This was in response to allegations raised on the issue by the state unit of BJP.

“We have thoroughly examined the files and there was no case of violation of the code of conduct,” Alka Panda, chief electoral officer (CEO), Orissa told the media.

The CEO's statement vindicated the stand taken by the government that the chief minister's order on 19 April pertained to compliance of the High Court order and was no way pertained to grant of prospecting license (PL) to Posco for Khandadhar iron ore mines.

The BJP in a memorandum to the Chief Election Commission of India alleged violation of the model code of conduct by the state government.

It had urged the Election Commission to stay operations of the order of the chief minister on 19 April 2009, favouring Posco with Khandadhar iron ore mines.

However, this was refuted by the steel and mines minister Pradeep Amat, stating that the matter was sub-judice and the order of the chief minister was obtained to issue rejection letters to some applicants for the same property who had moved the court to know the status of their applications.