New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) BJP today dubbed Congress as a party of "serial offenders" with several of its leaders defying the model code and going against the Election Commission and insisted that poll laws are legally binding on all parties and candidates. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said wherever law is silent on an issue, the EC will prevail during polls under Article 324 of the Constitution. "Free and fair elections are a part of the basic structure of the Constitution. In the space occupied by law, the law will prevail. For the rest, executive jurisdiction of the EC will prevail," Jaitley said, adding that model code of the EC falls in the latter category. "Article 324 of the Constitution is the reservoir of all residuary jurisdiction," Jaitley said. The BJP leader maintained that it would not allow the weakening of the EC and strongly oppose any dilution of its powers through any legislation. He insisted that to say that the model code is not binding is wrong and alleged that the Congress has breached the model code several times. "Congress leaders, both big and small, have violated the model code. It has become a party of serial offenders of the model code. Its leaders have absolutely no concern for it and see it with contempt," Jaitley said. Union Ministers Salman Kurshid and Beni Prasad Verma have drawn the ire of the EC after they promised 4.5 per cent sub-quota to the minorities. Now an FIR has been lodged against Rahul Gandhi for taking out a procession covering more kilometres and time than permitted by the EC. (MORE)
