New Delhi, Oct 31: Under the EC scanner on alleged violations of model code of conduct, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today met Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh and alleged that the poll panel had not followed the "principle of natural justice" while acting against his government and some of its officials. Taking exception to certain actions and statements issued by the commission over the past few weeks which "compel me to make some observations", he urged the panel to reconsider its decision to transfer two "upright" district returning officers for "no fault of theirs".


Attacking BJP and some other political parties for flooding the commission with "frivolous, false and fabricated" complaints against the Congress and his government, Jogi pleaded the commission that it should "hear both parties before taking any action. That is what the principle of natural justice demands". The commission had transferred the ROs of Jashpur and Jagdalpur districts over the controversial distrbution of school bags with Jogi's photograph on them.

"Needless to say, I request you to reconsider your decision against these hardworking, sincere and honest officers, both of whom belong to the scheduled caste category," said Jogi in his memorandum to the CEC. Bureau Report