EC biased against nationalist leaders: BJP MLA OP Sharma after notice for MCC 'violation'

The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Delhi BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma for posting photos featuring him, IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, prompting the legislator to dub the poll body "bias against nationalist leaders".

The Election Commission (EC) has asked him to take down the post and reply to the show cause notice by Thursday.

Sharma told PTI he has deleted the post mentioned by the EC, but said he did not understand why was the poll body was so "allergic" to a person cheering the heroic act of its soldiers and rejoicing over an act of national honour.

"The Election Commission is biased against nationalist leaders like me," he said.

The Election Commission Sunday announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls. The model code of conduct is in place across the country since the announcement of poll dates. Polling in Delhi will be held on May 12.

The posters, shared on social media by the BJP MLA on March 1, featured Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, the IAF officer, and Sharma, who represents the Vishwas Nagar seat in the Delhi Assembly.

"Pakistan has bowed down. Our brave soldier has returned. It's a big diplomatic victory that Modiji has brought Abhinandan back in very little time," the message in the photos read.

Shahdara District Magistrate K M Mahesh told PTI, "We issued a show cause notice to Sharma for posting posters featuring Abhinandan Varthaman on Facebook."