Nothing wrong with PM's radio address: EC

The Election Commission Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio address to the nation ahead of assembly elections in two states did not violate the model code of conduct.

The Congress party, in a complaint to the Election Commission, accused the prime minister of misusing state machinery ahead of the polls in Haryana and Maharashtra when he addressed people through his programme 'Man Ki Baat' on All India Radio.

A statement from the commission said: "The audio of the speech under reference and its script have been heard and perused in the commission... the commission did not find anything in the broadcast matter which constituted violation of model code of conduct".

The Congress, in its letter to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, had said Modi's programme was broadcast Oct 3 when the model code of conduct for the upcoming assembly polls was in force.

As per rules, when the model code of conduct is in force, the telecast or broadcast by political parties on Doordarshan or All India Radio can only be done as per the slot allotted to them by a draw of lots conducted by Prasar Bharti in consultation with EC.