Remarks over president's rule in UP were misconstrued, says Jaiswal's counsel

New Delhi, Feb 29 (ANI): Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal's counsel Subhash Chandra Maheshwari on Wednesday said the former's remarks over the imposition of president's rule in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh were misconstrued and stated out of context.

Maheshwari said the comments were merely an alternative suggestion if a clear election winner did not emerge.

"I think the Election Commission became too sensitive on the issue and issued the notice against the remarks made by Sriprakash Jaiswal which were not worth a notice. Whatever he had said in Kanpur he used the word 'if' and the meaning of it was misconstrued," Maheshwari told the media here.

"He said, 'if nobody is able to gain majority, then in that situation we will not support anybody nor seek support and in this situation there is no other alternative than the imposition of the president rule in the state'," he added.

Maheshwari further said he was currently in the process of clarifying the situation to the Election Commission.

"As you know Sriprakash Jaiswal is such a fine man and he cannot give such a remark to tarnish the image of his party. Can we frighten our voter? Can the voter in today's time be frightened? Can anybody do this? This is completely wrong and we are trying to explain to the Election Commission the circumstances under which the statement was made and what he said. And I believe that this notice will be discharged," he added.

The Election Commission had earlier sent a notice to Jaiswal over his recent remark that if the Congress did not win elections in Uttar Pradesh, president's rule should be imposed in the state.

Though Jaiswal did an about turn on his remark by saying he was just talking about constitutional alternatives, the Election Commission is of the view that a formal explanation is necessary, as it is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major political parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state. new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)