AAP moves EC against Pawar, Munde; seeks action under RPA

The Maharashtra unit of Aam Aadmi Party on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar for asking his party workers to "vote twice" in polls and sought derecognition of his party.

The AAP also filed a complaint against senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde seeking his disqualification as member of Parliament and setting aside his election in 2009 with retrospective effect for indulging in "electoral offences".

The AAP said that Pawar while addressing Mathadi workers (head-loaders) in Navi Mumbai on Sunday had called upon them to vote at Satara and then again at Mumbai by "taking advantage" of the multi-phase polling.

Pawar also stated that such workers should remember to wipe off the ink mark before voting again, AAP said.

The statement has been widely reported in the media and a video clip thereof is available on Internet, it said. "...Hence, Pawar and other party leaders present on the dais and visible in the video clip are guilty of electoral offences of undue influence under section 171C of the Indian Penal Code, criminal conspiracy under section 120-B of the IPC, corrupt practices under section 123(2) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and violation of section 1.4 of the Model Code of Conduct," AAP said in a statement.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party demanded that first information report be registered against Pawar, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and party leaders present on the dais and visible in the video clip and NCP be derecognised.

AAP also sought disqualification of all NCP candidates for Lok Sabha polls with immediate effect. In its complaint against Munde, the AAP referred to NCP Member of Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde's statement that he "facilitated bogus voting in favour of Gopinath Munde in 2009 polls in Beed district". The statement has been widely reported in the media.

Munde, the sitting MP from Beed constituency, is the BJP nominee for the seat this election as well. The AAP said Gopinath and Dhananjay are guilty of electoral offences of undue influence, corrupt practices under the Representation of People Act.