Joti, the chief secretary of Gujarat during Narendra Modi tenure as Chief Minister, was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner on July 6, 2017.
Refuting charges levied by opposition parties that Gujarat polls were delayed at the behest of BJP government, the Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti on Monday asserted that no special preference is being given to any political party as the poll body does not meddle in the poll campaign.
In an interview to a news agency, Joti also forcefully denied reports taking favours from the Gujarat government to let him stay at the Ahmedabad bungalow for over a year saying that he vacated the bungalow in October 2016 and had paid rent on a regular basis as per the Gujarat Government norms.
Joti said he was allocated a house in Delhi only after a year of being appointed in the Election Commission. Joti, the chief secretary of Gujarat during Narendra Modi tenure as Chief Minister, was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner on July 6, 2017.
"No, I am not under any sort of pressure. The opposition can only question us if we stop them from campaigning. The opportunities are equal for all. All parties make poll promises. Even the opposition parties are promising a lot of things. We are not stopping anybody," Joti said.
To a question on why the Commission is silent on PM Narendra Modi announcing schemes during his rallies in poll-bound state, Joti said political parties make poll promises during the campaigns and Election Commission does not act till the model code of conduct comes into effect. "We have given equal opportunities to all political parties. We have not directed any party to hold or not to hold their rallies in the state. We are not meddling in their campaigns.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister went to Gujarat. Today, Rahul Gandhi will go. We are not giving any special preference to any political party," said Joti.
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