Election Commission issues notice to Nitin Gadkari for 'inducing voters to take bribe'

New Delhi: The Election Commission Monday issued a showcause notice to transport minister Nitin Gadkari for his remarks at a public meeting in Maharashtra “to the effect of inducing voters to take a bribe if offered by someone, and then decide how to vote”.

The notice asks Mr Gadkari to explain his controversial remarks at the Sunday rally by Wednesday evening, failing which the commission shall decide on its own.

The Election Commission had got an email on this from Latur’s election officer.

In the notice, the Election Commission mentioned the English translation of Mr Gadkari’s speech in which he has said, “now, I am watching your faces and I have some skill of predicting the future by way of face reading. You have an opportunity of “Laxmi darshan” in the next 10 days. Some people to get foreign made, ordinary people to get local brand, Am I right?”