Jaitley attacks Congress for EC criticism over delayed Gujarat poll dates

He also said the poll panel cannot be browbeaten by political parties

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday attacked the Congress for its criticism of the Election Commission over delaying the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly election schedule, saying the poll panel cannot be browbeaten by political parties.

"Just recently over the Rajya Sabha polls, the Congress was singing praises of the Election Commission. Therefore, the Election Commission is not supposed to be browbeaten by a political party. The Election Commission is duty bound to act in accordance with law," Jaitley told reporters.

He said when two states are to go to polls around the same time, it is not necessary that both the states should be bound by the same schedule for enforcement of model code of conduct.

He said if a Congress-ruled state was bound by a longer period under the model code of conduct, it is not necessary that the BJP-ruled state should also be bound by it.

"The Election Commission is not bound by it."