BJP MLA booked for violating election code

Mumbai: A case has been registered against BJP MLA Manda Mhatre for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in force since March 10 for the April-May Lok Sabha polls, a Thane polling official said Monday. Mhatre, while speaking at a rally in the Shetkari Samaj Hall in Koparkhairane, asked people to vote two times.

Mhatre made remarks at a public gathering at Koparkhairane Sunday afternoon while campaigning for Shiv Sena’s Lok Sabha candidate Rajan Vichare. Vichare is contesting from the Thane constituency.

The MLA in her speech encouraged voters present at the rally to vote twice, first for Satara constituency candidate Narendra Patil on April 23 and later on April 29 for Vichare. She said that the citizens could go to their hometown in Satara to vote for Patil and then return to Thane and vote for Vichare who is the sitting MP. Mhatre is the sitting MLA from Belapur in Navi Mumbai, which falls in Thane district.

An official release from the Thane election office Monday said that an offence had been registered under sections 171D and 171F of the IPC – both sections dealing with personation in elections.  The case has been registered at Koparkhairane police station, it added.