LS polls: AAP writes to EC against PMO for violating poll code

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday complained to the Election Commission of India against the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

The party states that it has been reported in a news report that an "e-mail was sent by an official in NITI Aayog to bureaucrats in all the Union Territories on April 8."

AAP stated that as per the article, NITI Aayog official has asked bureaucrats to prepare a write-up for PMO on the highlights and important features of Union Territories - historical, local heroes, culture, religious and economic.

"The email was addressed to the Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh, the Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Chief Secretary of Puducherry, among others," the AAP stated in its letter.

"This is clear violation of the model code of conduct and the direction of the Election Commission of India which says that 'ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work'... Request you to conduct an enquiry and take appropriate action as early as possible," AAP said.