EC slaps notice on Kerala CM over comments on Modi

The Election Commission has slapped a notice on Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan over his remarks against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, during an election campaign rally at Puthanathani for the Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency.

The EC has sent a notice to the Kerala CM following a report from the election observer in Ponnani constituency. Achuthanandan, while addressing a public rally, said that the Gujarat Chief Minister was responsible for killing several women and children and that he (Modi) was rejoicing during the killing of the hapless victims.

The EC stated in its letter that the Kerala CM should not have made such a statement. However, the commission has not sought the CM's reply to the letter.

Welcoming the EC notice, party leader M T Ramesh said that the notice on Achuthanandan is a message to political leaders, who are using derogatory remarks against others during election campaigns and other public speeches.

The BJP alleged that Achuthanadan would have used such remarks against another chief minister 'in his desperate bid to become a hero' among the party cadres, as the Communist Party of India - Marxist had 'black listed' him.