The Election Commission has warned Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily not to announce policy decisions during Gujarat elections.
The Election Commission has warned Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily not to announce policy decisions during Gujarat elections.
Taking umbrage over Moily making a policy announcement on increasing the subsidised cooking gas cylinder cap from six to nine a year, the Election Commission, through a letter to Moily, said his announcement is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct applicable during elections, and asked him to be circumspect in the future.
Moily had reportedly sent an explanation to the Election Commission earlier in the day on why he had announced that the government may increase the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders families are entitled to ahead of the elections in Gujarat.
The poll panel met this evening to discuss Moily's letter
On Tuesday, the Election Commission reprimanded Moily for violating the Model Code of Conduct by announcing a decision that could influence voters.
Moily had said that the government was considering raising the cap on discounted gas cylinders from six to nine per year.
The Election Commission held an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening and ordered the government not to implement any new decisions till elections are completed.
In his response sent today, Moily said: "There has been widespread demand from all sections of society particularly women, including political parties cutting across party lines, both inside and outside the Parliament to increase the cap in supply of domestic LPG cylinders. ..the Government is yet to take a decision on the matter. As such my response to media queries explained above should not be treated as an announcement regarding the decision of the government.
In September, in an attempt to reign in massive subsidy bills, the government said that families would get six subsidized cooking gas cylinders a year. The reform was among three new policies that led to Mamata Banerjee exiting the Prime Minister's coalition, leaving the government in a minority.
The move has upset not just the opposition but the Prime Minister's Congress party as well, with many leaders pointing out that the new policy, likely to upset voters, comes just as important states are choosing their next government.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}