EC serves notice to Ashok Chavan for incorrect poll expenses

The EC yesterday held former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan guilty of failing to give his correct election expenses in the 2009 assembly polls and slapped a show cause notice on him

The Election Commission yesterday held former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan guilty of failing to give his correct election expenses in the 2009 assembly polls and slapped a show cause notice on him, a decision that could pave the way for his diqualification as MP and bar him from contesting polls for three years.

Ashok Chavan

Setting a 20-day deadline to respond to the notice, the Commission said he has “failed to lodge his account of election expenses in the manner required by the (Representation of the People) Act and rules.”

The EC, on the directions of the Supreme Court, had issued a notice to Chavan in May to appear before it in connection with the case of alleged expenses made by him during the 2009 Maharashtra assembly polls which were categorised as “paid news”.

If 55-year-old Chavan is disqualified by the EC, it may have an impact on his Lok Sabha membership also though the issue relates to his contesting the assembly polls.

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