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Upset with the BMC poll predictions made on the basis of purported intelligence reports by a section of media, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee on Sunday urged the State Election Commission to treat these reports at “paid news” and initiate action against two local newspapers and a regional television channel.
A Marathi news newspaper and English daily from Mumbai had reported that the State intelligence department had prepared a report which had predicted that the February 16 BMC would throw up a “hung house” and that the Raj Thackeray-led MNS would emerge as a ”kingmaker” in the poll. Though the two newspapers had come out with a different set of numbers, it had one thing in common that the MNS would win 30 seats in the poll to 227-member BMC. The Raj Thackeray party would have a say in the making of the new powers-that-be in the BMC.
The MRCC’s petition also referred to a news strip carried by a regional television channel on February 11 and 12, which stated that the Congress-NCP alliance would get anywhere from 85 to 90 seats in the poll.
In a memorandum, MRCC vice president Rajiv Chavan urged the SEC to treat these news items as “paid news” and initiate action against the newspapers and a media house concerned.
Chavan said the reason behind MRCC seeking an inquiry into these reports purportedly based on intelligence reports, was that the intelligence department had not submitted any such intelligence report to the state government.
A Marathi news newspaper and English daily from Mumbai had reported that the State intelligence department had prepared a report which had predicted that the February 16 BMC would throw up a “hung house” and that the Raj Thackeray-led MNS would emerge as a ”kingmaker” in the poll. Though the two newspapers had come out with a different set of numbers, it had one thing in common that the MNS would win 30 seats in the poll to 227-member BMC. The Raj Thackeray party would have a say in the making of the new powers-that-be in the BMC.
The MRCC’s petition also referred to a news strip carried by a regional television channel on February 11 and 12, which stated that the Congress-NCP alliance would get anywhere from 85 to 90 seats in the poll.
In a memorandum, MRCC vice president Rajiv Chavan urged the SEC to treat these news items as “paid news” and initiate action against the newspapers and a media house concerned.
Chavan said the reason behind MRCC seeking an inquiry into these reports purportedly based on intelligence reports, was that the intelligence department had not submitted any such intelligence report to the state government.
