Pleading that he had not violated the model code of conduct, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday replied to the show-cause notice served by the Election Commission on a complaint that he had misused his official position.
Prasad, in his response to the notice, maintained that he had all regard for the EC and stated that he had used his official vehicle only for security reasons as he was placed in 'Z' category, senior party leader Ramdeo Bhandari told PTI.
Bhandari, who handed over Prasad's response to the EC, said the RJD had paid Rs 700 to the Railway Board for ferrying its leader from the Rail Bhavan to the Commission.
He also pointed out that in view of the model code, Prasad had travelled as an ordinary rail passenger in North Bihar recently and hoped that the EC would be satisfied with his reply.
The EC had served the notice following a complaint from the National Democratic Alliance, which alleged that Prasad as also another union minister from his party, Prem Chand Gupta, had breached the poll code by visiting the EC headquarters in Delhi in an official vehicle, while seeking to reschedule poll dates for the state Assembly elections.
