-PTI
In the first case of action against a politician for ‘paid news’, the Election Commission on Thursday disqualified a woman MLA from Uttar Pradesh for three years for incorrect statement of election expenditure incurred on ‘news items’ in two Hindi dailies.
The decision to disqualify Umlesh Yadav, an MLA belonging to Rashtriya Parivartan Dal, headed by D P Yadav, can have ramifications in other cases, including that of former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan.
The three-member Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi took the decision on a complaint filed by losing candidate Yogendra Kumar. Kumar’s complaint with the Press Council was upheld and formed the basis for the poll panel’s action.