Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 27, 2018, evening, constituted a committee comprising senior officers of the Commission to investigate the alleged leak of date of Karnataka Assembly polls before it was announced by the Chief Election Commisioner (CEC) O P Rawat earlier on the day. The committe has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
The Committee would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future. The Committee set up by the Commission has already sought information from the media organizations concerned and individuals.
“Today during the announcement of Karnataka Assembly Election, 2018, by the Commission, it was brought to the notice of the Commission that minutes before the official announcement of the Election Schedule, Amit Malviya in a Tweet had already tweeted the date of Poll as May 12, 2018, and date of counting as May 18, 2018. In another Tweet, he also gave a reference of Times Now News Channel as his source. Though, the reports in tweets mentioned the Polling date as May 12, 2018 and counting date as May 18, 2018, it was clarified that actual schedule of Karnataka Assembly Elections has the counting date as May 15, 2018,” the ECI said in a statement, according to a PIB release. Amit Malviya is BJP IT cell chief.
The Commission immediately directed that the matter be probed and necessary and effective action be taken.