A day after cameras caught him distributing Rs 100 notes to Bihar voters in violation of the model code of conduct, RJD chief and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav remained defiant.‘‘My supporters are the poor, the downtrodden and the Dalits. I just gave them some money to buy sweets. I don’t think I have violated any election code. I did not take money after all, you know. Someone asked me for money and I gave it,’’ he said.Meanwhile, the BJP is planning to meet the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi on Monday with complaints of violation of the code and misuse of the government machinery for the RJD rally on December 23.At least two TV channels, accompanying Laloo on Saturday night on his rath, had footage of him distributing notes to villagers by the roadside. Laloo was returning to Patna after a programme in Bihta, 70 km from Patna.In the footage, Yadav is seen sitting by the roadside with a small crowd surrounding him.‘‘You buy sweets with this,’’ he says as he gives away money from a bundle on his lap. Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Jaya Prakash Yadav, was also with the RJD chief.Hoardings and arches on Patna roads are also being considered a violation of the election code.Political parties are not allowed to use government property for publicity and there have even been instances of Opposition leaders being charged for planting flags on telephone posts.BJP leader Sushil Modi said his party would petition the EC to intervene immediately and enforce the code of conduct. He claimed there had been several instances of money being collected by government officials for the RJD rally.
