In a major setback to Madhya Pradesh government, the Election Commission of India has struck down Water Resources Minister Narottam Mishra over alleged corrupt practices an paid new during 2008 assembly polls in the state.
According to ECI order, Mishra has been barred from contesting elections for three years. Considered as number two in the Madhya Pradesh cabinet, Mishra also holds charge of the Public Relations Department apart from two major ministries — Water Resources and Legislative Affairs Ministry. But Mishra refuted the charges and said: "I didn't give any money to the media. There is no evidence. I'll go for an appeal against it."
The decision came based on a complaint by former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti in April 2009. The ECI had issued a notice in January 2013 seeking his response. Mishra challenged the notice in the high court bench at Gwalior and got a stay. But the court vacated the stay order after considering the facts submitted by complainant's counsel. Mishra approached the SC to stall the EC proceedings but the top court did not grant him relief.