EC asks UP govt to book Tandon

The Election Commission on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to register a case of bribery against senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Lalji Tandon.

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Over 20 women had died in a stampede on Sunday when Tandon was distributing sarees to poor women in a park in Lucknow to mark his birthday.

Lucknow being Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Lok Sabha constituency and Tandon being Vajpayee's poll manager, the EC had sought a report on the incident from district authorities.

The full Election Commission met in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the matter, EC spokesman A N Jha said.

He said the commission will also serve a show-cause notice on BJP for violation of the model code of conduct.

Jha said the police has been asked to register a case under section 171(B) of the IPC, which relates to bribery during elections.

The commission also ordered the tranfer of Lucknow district magistrate and senior superintendent of police.