NEW DELHI: Minister in Delhi government Atishi Marlena has sought more time to respond to the Election Commission’s notice over her unsubstantiated claim that she was recently approached by the BJP through an intermediary, to join the party and “save her political career”.
Sources told TOI that Atishi had cited her preoccupation with other matters including AAP’s poll campaign, to seek another 48 hours to send her reply to EC.The original deadline set by EC was Monday noon. EC is likely to accept Atishi’s request.
The EC notice served to Atishi on Friday had cited model code provision that restrains politicians and parties from criticising rival parties or their workers based on unverified allegations and distortions, and directed Atishi to explain her allegations against the BJP.
“It is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the….statements made by you and when the veracity of the statements made by you is contested then you must be able to back your statements by a factual basis,” EC had said and added that the matter was being examined in light of the model code and relevant electoral laws.
Atishi had, at a press conference on April 2, claimed that BJP had approached her through a close friend of hers, proposing that she join the party to “save my political career or further my political career”. However, she did not produce any evidence to back her allegation.
Sources told TOI that Atishi had cited her preoccupation with other matters including AAP’s poll campaign, to seek another 48 hours to send her reply to EC.The original deadline set by EC was Monday noon. EC is likely to accept Atishi’s request.
The EC notice served to Atishi on Friday had cited model code provision that restrains politicians and parties from criticising rival parties or their workers based on unverified allegations and distortions, and directed Atishi to explain her allegations against the BJP.
“It is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the….statements made by you and when the veracity of the statements made by you is contested then you must be able to back your statements by a factual basis,” EC had said and added that the matter was being examined in light of the model code and relevant electoral laws.
Atishi had, at a press conference on April 2, claimed that BJP had approached her through a close friend of hers, proposing that she join the party to “save my political career or further my political career”. However, she did not produce any evidence to back her allegation.