Didn't violate poll code, Jayant tells EC

Urging the Election Commission to withdraw its notice to him, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh's son and MP Jayant Chaudhary Tuesday argued that accepting financial help for poll management from a person is not a violation of model code of conduct.

The poll panel Monday sent Chaudhary a notice after he was caught on camera accepting cash from a person.

According to a RLD statement, Jayant on Feb 19 went to a poll campaign meeting of party nominee Meghnath Singh, contesting from the Goverdhan assembly constituency, when a former village headman, Than Singh, handed him some money for election management.

"Such financial help does not violate the model code... the charge against me that money exchanged hands at the poll meet is baseless. The commission is requested to cancel the notice,” said Chaudhary's letter to the Election Commission.