Wll ensure voters are not influenced: CEC on Rajiv assassins’ issue

The Election Commission on Friday said it will take an ‘appropriate view’ to ensure voters are not influenced if any reference comes to it on Tamil Nadu government’s decision to remit the life sentence of killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“As and when the reference comes, the Commission will take an appropriate view just to ensure that our voters are not influenced,” Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said at a press conference here.

He was responding to a question after announcing Assembly election schedule for Tamil Nadu along with West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

With the announcement, the model code of conduct has come into force under which state governments or the Centre are barred from taking decisions without consulting EC which can affect the level playing field of political parties.

Asked ‘whether’ the Ministry of Home Affairs would be approaching the poll panel on the issue as the Tamil Nadu government has sought the Centre’s view on the issue, Zaidi said the Commission will “not speculate” at this point of time.