EC washes hands off INLD Chief case, says court will take 'appropriate action'

Chandigarh: With questions being raised on INLD Chief Om Parkash Chautala campaigning while being out on bail on health grounds, the Election Commission on Saturday washed its hand off, saying it was for the competent court to take action in the matter.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) V S Sampath said that INLD had informed EC under the law that Chautala will be a star campaigner.

"He (Chautala) is campaigning as star campaigner of his party," the CEC told reporters, adding that any aggrieved party can move the court on the issue.

He was asked about 79-year-old Chautala, who is on bail on health grounds following his conviction last year in a teacher recruitment scandal, canvassing for his party candidates for the October 15 polls in Haryana.

The Delhi High Court had sought the response of CBI and Chautala by October 10 on a plea for directions to the politician to immediately surrender.

The plea contended that Chautala intends to "misuse the grace period of 17 days given to him to surrender" by planning to campaign during that period.

The CEC said, "Under the law a political party names its star campaigner and the commission takes note of it and we have been informed that he (Chautala) is his party's star campaigner."

"People should approach competent court for an appropriate action (against Chautala)," he said.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Chautala had on Friday campaigned for his party candidate from Uchana in Jind district of Haryana. He continued with the canvassing for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

INLD is fighting a do-or-die battle for the assembly polls in alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after being out of helm of affairs for a decade.