New Delhi, Wednesday, October 28th 2009: The Chief Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi after going through the statements made by the minister on the 16th at the Kannur press club. The commission has asked Vayalar Ravi to render his explanation within 48 hours.

The CPM led LDF had alleged that Union Minister for Overseas Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, violated the election code of conduct during his visit here ahead of the November 9th by-poll by promising Rs 5 lakh for the development of sports at Nirmalagiri College.

In the complaint lodged by CPM to Election Commission it was accused that, the ministers in the state or at the Centre making promises at official functions amounted to breach of the model code of conduct when the election process had been set in motion. The complaint also says that remarks by Ravi against the District Collector K V Balakrishnan accusing him of failure to take action on complaints of manipulation in the electoral rolls were also in breach of the election code of conduct.

Former Kannur district collector, V.K. Balakrishnan had also sent a report to the chief electoral officer about a possible violation of election guidelines by Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.