Row over ‘untimely’ wristwatch present

Lande is likely to contest Shirur Lok Sabha constituency,which has been in the news as earlier there were talks about NCP chief Sharad Pawar contesting the seat. Pawar is contesting from Madha.

The alleged violation of the model code by Lande has raised quite a ruckus. The district election office has ordered an inquiry into the incident which allegedly happened on Sunday.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of the BJP has filed a complaint with the assistant returning officer of Khed,Kiran Mahajan,alleging that Lande had organised a get-together of media persons at Chakan and distributed wrist watches to the guests on Sunday.

“The NCP MLA has violated the model code of conduct and immediate action should be taken against him,” Bhagwan Mansukh,president of the Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP said in his complaint.

Returning officer for Shirur constituency Additional Collector R K Gaikwad said that the assistant returning officer has been directed to serve a notice on the NCP MLA seeking a clarification.

“Taking cognisance of the complaint,an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain whether there was violation of the election code,” he said.

Lande denied the allegations saying,“There is no need for me to distribute wristwatches and the allegations made against me are baseless.” “I have not received any communication from the election office so far,” the NCP leader said,adding,he would reply if he is served notice.

This is the first complaint so far on violation of model code for 2009 Lok Sabha polls from the district. Polling for the four constituencies in the district,Pune city,Shirur,Baramati and Maval is scheduled on April 23.

The Shirur constituency had been grabbing attention earlier over the possibility of the NCP chief Sharad Pawar contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the constituency. However,Pawar later announced his candidature from Madha constituency in Solapur district.

Announcements land Pawar under scanner
NCP leader Sharad Pawar,who has launched his campaign in the Madha Lok Sabha constituency in a big way,is now facing an Election Commission probe for violating the model code of conduct. An inquiry has been initiated by the District Collector and returning officer Jagdish Patil after BJP Solapur unit president Rajkumar Patil lodged a complaint against announcements made by Pawar at two of his rallies at Natepute and Malshiras on March 13.

Solapur Resident Deputy Collector Suresh Jadhav said the assistant returning officer of the constituency has been asked to procure tapes of the two rallies and submit a report within two days. “We will examine the tapes and the necessary action will be taken. If there is any violation,we will be forwarding it to the Election Commission,” he said.

Patil said in his complaint that Pawar promised loan waiver scheme for various backward communities at the Natepute public meeting,while he promised the shepherd community that it would be included in the list of Scheduled Castes at Malshiras. Jadhav said he had only paper cuttings of the meeting with him and the allegation can be confirmed only after verification.

Patil said,“We have proof of code violation and hope the commission will take appropriate action.”