BJP urges EC not to ban live telecast of PM's rallies

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday urged the Election Commission not to ban live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies during polling in Bihar, as demanded by the Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress alliance.

"The EC assured us that the live telecast will not be banned," senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told IANS after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.

A BJP delegation told the Election Commission that by banning live telecast, voters of constituencies in Bihar that are yet to go to polls will not be able to listen to a senior party leader leading the BJP's election campaign, he said.

In a memorandum submitted to the commission, the BJP alleged that by seeking a ban on the live telecast of the prime minister's rallies on voting days, the rival alliance was trying to "attack democratic values".

The delegation also demanded a CBI probe into the sting operation that showed Bihar minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha allegedly accepting a bribe.

The Commission has already asked Income Tax authorities to investigate the case.

Kushwaha resigned on Sunday after he was caught on camera while allegedly accepting Rs.4 lakh from individuals posing as "businessmen from Mumbai".

The alliance consisting of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress on Sunday approached the Election Commission to seek a ban on live telecast of Modi's rallies in Bihar on the ground that it could influence voters of constituencies going to poll on Monday.