The Election Commission of India on Monday issued a show cause notice to Union Minister for Transport and Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari for violating the Model Code of Conduct at a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra.
Addressing a rally in Latur on Saturday, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president had said that it was okay for people to take bribes.
Gadkari's statement "take money from all but vote for development" triggered a lot of controversy and drew sharp criticism from various political parties.
The Election Commission has accused Gadkari of inducing voters to accept bribes and has asked him to reply by Wednesday evening, failing which it will be compelled to take action.
Array
Array
Maharashtra will go to polls on October 15 while the counting of votes will take place on October 18. There are 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app