Allegation against Rajeev Chandrasekhar; Shashi Tharoor gets warning from Election Commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Election Commission has issued a warning to Thiruvananthapuram MP and UDF candidate Shashi Tharoor over his cash-for-vote allegation against NDA candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Shashi Tharoor had alleged that Rajeev was trying to buy the votes of community leaders by paying money in the coastal areas. Tharoor raised this allegation during an interview given to a private channel. The Commission directed Tharoor not to repeat such allegations in the future. It also directed the channel not to broadcast that interview anymore. Meanwhile, Tharoor's representative clarified that Tharoor had not named anyone in the interview.

Tharoor had mentioned the same in the reply he gave to Rajeev Chandrasekhar's legal notice. In his reply, Tharoor pointed out that he had not mentioned the name of Rajeev Chandrasekhar or his party while raising the allegation. He also said that Rajeev was raising the allegation either due to a misunderstanding or intentionally.

The NDA leaders had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that Tharoor had said in an interview that the NDA candidate was attempting to influence Christian leaders, including priests, and pay money in the coastal areas to buy votes.