New Delhi: BJP's ‘Chai pe charcha with NaMo' programme has run into trouble with Election Commission as poll officials in Uttar Pradesh have registered a case against some party leaders for “enticement” of voters by distributing free tea in violation of norms and the model code.
Poll authorities have said that they consider the serving of free tea as enticement of voters.
“Any kind of allurement or enticement of voters during the poll process is not permissible as per law,” UP's Chief Electoral Officer, Umesh Sinha, told PTI.
‘Chai pe Charcha' sees the party organize events where free tea is served to people gathered at tea stalls across the country while BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi answers questions from the public.
Top poll officials said that a case was registered under provisions of IPC against certain local BJP leaders at Kotwali police station at Mohammadi in Lakhimpur Kheri district.
Sources said that BJP leaders had obtained permission from UP's Chief Electoral Officer for holding the ‘Chai Pe Charcha' programme on March 8 at a tea stall in the area.
But Sinha said that permission was granted for the event to take place as per the provisions of the Model Code.
