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New Delhi
The Election Commission Thursday held Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct for his announcement of incentives for sugar exports in Pune at a time when assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are being held.

The commission also issued notice to Union Cabinet Secretary B.K Chaturvedi, directing him to seek the minister's explanation for violation of the Code and forward the same to the poll panel, said a commission spokesperson.

"Pawar violated the Model Code, his explanation be called and submitted to the commission by April 7," the commission said in its order.

The commission earlier on March 30 had issued preliminary notice to cabinet secretary demanding the minister's explanation of the circumstances under which he announced the incentive for sugar export without securing the commission's permission. The commission had demanded Pawar's explanation within a day at that time.

The commission officials explained that the announcement of incentive for sugar export amid the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly elections amounted to violation of Model Code of Conduct as the state has a large population of sugar cane growers and the announcement has the potential to lure voters to a particular party.

Pawar had announced on March 26 in Pune that the centre approved a relief package of Rs 8.5 billion for sugar exports, the ban on which was lifted in January on expectations of higher production this season.

Announcing the government's decision to provide incentives for sugar export, Pawar had told reporters that sugar production this year was expected to be around 25 million tonnes and the country had carry over stock of 4 million tonnes from last year.

The annual domestic requirement of the commodity was around 19 million tonnes, he said. 

IANS | April 5, 2007

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