EC notice to Kejriwal on bribes

The Election Commission Tuesday asked Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal to explain why he asked people to take bribes from other parties for voting in the Delhi assembly polls.

The poll panel asked the AAP leader to give an explanation by 4 p.m. Thursday.

"People from both parties (BJP and Congress) will come to offer money, do not refuse, take it...if no one comes forward to give you money, go to their offices and ask them to give it to you in their office...accept the money from both, but vote only for the broom," the Election Commission quoted Kejriwal as saying at a public meeting.

In the notice to the former Delhi chief minister, the poll panel said it was "prima facie of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statements, you have violated provisions of the model code of conduct".

"You are hereby called upon to explain by 4 p.m. 22.01.2015 (Thursday) as to why action should not be taken against you for aforesaid violation of the model code of conduct, failing which the Election Commission of India shall take a decision without any further reference to you," the notice said.

The notice was sent following a complaint to the poll panel by the Congress. The AAP chief made the appeal to the people Sunday.

Balloting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held Feb 7. Votes will be counted Feb 10.

This is the second notice issued to Kejriwal in the run up to the prestigious Delhi polls.

The commission had issued notice to the AAP leader Jan 17 for violating the model code of conduct by making "unverified" allegations against Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.

The EC also asked Kejriwal to explain his alleged comments that the BJP was trying to incite communal violence in Delhi.