The Election Commission has given Navjot Singh Sidhu a notice over his statement from Bhopal rally where he tagged PM Narendra Modi as 'traitor'. The poll panel has given him a 24-hour deadline to file a reply. Further action in the matter will be taken by the Election Commission if Navjot Singh Sidhu fails to submit his explanation. In his April 29 speech in Bhopal, the cricketer-turned-politician had accused PM Modi of being a “traitor” and had alleged corruption in the Rafale deal. The Bharatiya Janata Party had filed a complaint with the Election Commission as the speech violated Model Code of Conduct. Before this, a Gujarat BJP worker had complained against Sidhu for calling PM Modi a ”thief” in his poll rally on April 17. Taking to Twitter, Sidhu had also said that people should put a thought in their vote or their kids could end up becoming a tea-seller, pakoda-seller or a watchman. “Ek galat vote aapke baccho ko chaiwala, pakodawala ya chowkidar bana sakta hai. Better prevent and prepare, rather than repent and repair… (One wrong vote can make your child a tea-seller, pakoda-seller or a watchman),” he had tweeted. Earlier, in April, the Election Commission had barred Navjot Singh Sidhu from holding any public meeting, road shows, public rally and interviews in media, in connection with the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, for 72 hours.

Election Commission of India has reportedly given a clean chit to PM Narendra Modi for the eighth time in the model code violation complaints, including one relating to his ‘roadshow’ in Ahmedabad on April 23 and April 9 speech at Chitradurga, Karnataka.

The Election Commission issued a statement saying that the decision has been taken after going through a detailed report filed by the Gujarat Electoral Officer in the matter.

The matter was first heard in the Bombay High Court then the makers approached the Supreme Court, but finally the decision on its release was left in hands with the Election Commission and Censor Board of India.

His lawyer affirmed that the matter will be dragged to the Supreme Court to claim justice. "We had submitted the evidence that was asked from us. Still, the nomination was declared invalid. We will go to the Supreme Court," Tej Bhadur's lawyer Rajesh Gupta said.

"The Commission, hereby warns Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to desist from using the references to defence forces for political propaganda and to be careful in future," the order read.

Mohammed Mohsin was suspended from his duties by the Election Commission after he checked the vehicle in Sambalpur, where the PM addressed an election rally.

Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to accept Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati's plea against the Election Commission's 48-hour nationwide ban on her from campaigning.

Taking a step against hate speeches, the Election Commission has barred UP CM Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati from campaigning for 72 hours and 48 hours respectively starting from tomorrow morning.

As per official records, the BSP has biggest bank balance among all the political parties. As per an expenditure record filed to the Election Commission, the BSP has Rs 669 crores in their bank accounts.