Clean chit for Walse Patil gets Sena, BJP hot under the collar

Oppn parties plan to write to poll panel demanding action against assembly speaker for violation of election code

The city units of the BJP and Shiv Sena have decided to write to the State Election Commission (SEC) protesting against Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse Patil having been given a clean chit in a case of alleged violation of the model of code of conduct for elections.


In the eye of a storm: Dilip Walse Patil was found holding a meeting
at the circuit house last week. Authorities say after inquiring into the
matter they had found Walse Patil's visit to the circuit house was for a
private purpose. File pic

Walse Patil was accused by the Opposition parties of holding a political meeting with party workers at the circuit house.u00a0Returning Officer Avinash Hadgal said that the report from the office of the Block Development Officer had come in and it mentioned that Walse Patil visited the circuit house for a private purpose and the meeting which he organised was not a political one.

City BJP president Vikas Mathkari said, "It's their government (Congress-NCP alliance), therefore we are not surprised that Walse Patil has got a clean chit in the case of violation of model of code of conduct. This incident has happened in front of an election observer, so by all means it is a clear violation of the code of conduct and I will immediately send a letter to SEC demanding action be taken against Walse Patil."

Last week it was found by an election observer, who had come from Delhi for the Khadakwasla assembly bypoll to be held on October 13, that Walse Patil was staying in the circuit house and holding a meeting with some party workers.u00a0

Shiv Sena leader Sham Deshpande also demanded that immediate action should be taken against Walse Patil.
Deshpande said, "Why the government in power is giving a clean chit to the Speaker of Assembly? It's clear misuse of power."

Asked why the opposition alliance had not made a complaint to the SEC till now, he said, "We had thought that the SEC will follow the rules and take action against him (Walse Patil), but now we have to take action by sending a letter to the SEC."

Opposition Leader in the Legislative Assembly Eknath Khadse also demanded that the SEC should look into the matter and appropriate action.