Out of PM poll work, Lalji says ECs knew, wished me on b-day

While he had initially refused to comment on it saying the credibility of constitutional bodies like the EC should be maintained, today the BJP leader contested the Commission’s argument that it was kept in the dark about the function where saris worth Rs 40 each were distributed to mark Tandon’s birthday. ‘‘The EC had all the information about the function. I had personally met all the three election commissioners who were in Lucknow that day and the trio had congratulated me on my birthday,’’ Tandon claimed.

‘‘I should be told on what basis the decision to lodge the FIR against me was taken without giving me a chance to put my version across,’’ he asserted.

The BJP leader added that he was quitting as convenor not over some guilt but for the sake of Vajpayeeji.

‘‘I don’t want the Opposition to plot any conspiracy against the PM during these elections by highlighting the sari episode. I don’t have any guilt over the episode because I know that my intentions were fair. Mishaps do occur and in Lucknow itself there have been a number of incidents in which many people have died, but that does mean that any individual was responsible,’’ said Tandon.

He is consulting legal experts to deal with the FIR lodged against him, and hoped he would be cleared after the BJP replied to the show cause notice served on it by the EC. The party has despatched a team of legal experts to Lucknow to collect ‘‘vital information’’ before sending a reply to the EC. Sources disclosed that the party suspected a conspiracy behind the stampede and the team would try to ascertain if that was true.

Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to observe a black day on Monday all across the state, with the focus being Lucknow. The EC has given permission to the Uttar Pradesh government to provide ex-gratia financial assistance to families of the stampede victims.