he Election Commission is cracking its whip and feeling the heat the most is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The EC has asked the state government to furnish a complete list of persons against whom criminal cases are pending. In a communication to the chief secretary, the EC directed the authorities to provide district-wise list of persons against whom criminal cases were pending and those who have been provided security cover, EC sources said.
The commission also asked him to provide by March 13 a separate district-wise list of persons who have been given security cover by the state after the announcement of poll schedule.
The election body has ordered the deployment of a large number of paramilitary personnel in the three districts under the state's Kanpur division. The area, which will go to polls on April 7, is Mulayam's stronghold.
Meanwhile, complying with the Supreme Court directive, the Central Bureau of Investigation has began the probe against the chief minister and some of his family members to probe alleged amassing of property disproportionate to their known sources of income.
However, Mulayam has said that he will not give any statement to the CBI, as he has no faith in the agency.
"I have full faith in the Supreme Court but not in the CBI.... Whatever be the consequences, I will not give any statement to CBI," he said at a rally, in Bagpat. Suspended Congress leader K Natwar Singh also addressed the rally.
Image: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Photograph: Deepak Salvi
Also See:
Battle for UP: Mulayam under the scanner
Will this man bring down Mulayam?
'Mulayam has no faith in judiciary'
Mulayam Singh's bitter PIL
Graphic: The 7 phases of UP polls