Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan
The Delhi High Court has set aside the Election Commission's show-cause notice against former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan for allegedly fudging poll expenses during the 2009 assembly elections.
"I am happy with the order of the court. My opponents who brought false allegations against me have been answered. This case had not affected my political work and that will continue," said Mr Chavan.
The High Court's order will provide some reprieve for Mr Chavan, the Congress's Member of Parliament from Nanded constituency.
The Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Mr Chavan in July this year for allegedly failing to file his election expenses as per law. The commission had asked Mr Chavan -- who had to resign from the Chief Minister's post in 2010 over the Adarsh Society scam -- why he should not be disqualified.
Speaking on the forthcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra, Mr Chavan said, "The next state government will be formed by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance. We have worked a lot in the last few years."
The Election Commission announced today that the elections for the 288 assembly seats in the state will be held on October 15 and the results will be declared on October 19.
The Congress-NCP coalition government has been in power in Maharashtra for the last 15 years, but this year it faces a tough electoral battle as it has been hurt by anti-incumbency and a slew of scams. It has also been reportedly squabbling over seat-sharing with ally NCP.