EC’s turn to rap Jogi: State no fiefdom

While the EC also criticised Punjab CM Amarinder Singh for violating the model code of conduct by using state-owned aircarft for campaigning, its harshest words were reserved for Jogi.

In a stern and lengthy order issued today evening, the Commission also asked the Congress to reimburse the state government the total cost of seven flights undertaken by Jogi and two by party president Sonia Gandhi from its own funds, or recover it from Jogi and Amarinder.

Sources in the EC said a lenient view was taken of the Congress president’s case given her status and the historical stature of the party she heads. The Commission was also reluctant to take the extreme step of suspending or withdrawing the recognition of the Congress as a national party.

‘‘They (Congress functionaries) also repeatedly assured the party that they would be careful and strictly adhere to the code in future,’’ EC officials said.

In the case involving Amarinder, who used Punjab government aircraft for electioneering in Madhya Pradesh, the EC gave similar orders of recovery of expenses incurred by him.

The EC had issued two showcause notices on November 18 and 26 to the Congress president and Jogi, and later to Amarinder.

In the case of Sonia, the Congress’s argument that the state-owned aircarft was used at the insistence of the SPG, which is in charge of her security, was found acceptable and convincing by the full Commission.

However, the EC underlined that neither the Congress nor Jogi could give an adequate explanation on how Chhattisgarh state resources were used by Sonia to travel to a function not connected with the state government in any way.

The Commission also pointed out that for a 20-minute flight from Chennai to Sriperumbudur, Sonia had travelled 5 hours and 35 minutes to get to Chennai from Raipur. Similarly, the return journey had also ‘‘strangely’’ taken 6 hours and 55 minutes.