EC lets off Satish Chandra Mishra after warning

The Election Commission on Monday let off Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra with a warning for seeking the votes of Dalit Brahmin families on the ground of caste.

After taking a lenient view on Mishra, the commission said it did not intend to pursue further the matter of poll code violation against him.

The commission hoped that Mishra would be careful not to violate the model code of conduct in future and would be more careful in his public utterances during electioneering.

"After carefully considering his (Mishra's) reply and after watching the CD, the commission is of the view that the tone and tenor and context of the impugned speech of Shri Satish Chandra Mishra amounts to an appeal to voters belonging to Dalit Brahmin families to seek their votes on the ground of caste," the commission said in its order.

It added, "But the commission has taken a lenient view and decided not to pursue the matter further."

It said, before closing the case, the commission "hopes and expects that Satish Chandra Mishra would be careful not to violate the model code of conduct in future and be more circumspect in his public utterances during election campaigns, when the atmosphere is already surcharged and any violation of the model code of conduct may lead to serious consequences of promoting ill-will or disharmony among various sections of citizens of India."