NEW DELHI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- India's election commission, an independent body entrusted to conduct elections, Saturday disqualified a local minister in Madhya Pradesh state for submitting wrong accounts of election expenditure, officials said.
According to officials, Narottam Mishra, a leader of ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), has been debarred from contesting polls for three years.
He has allegedly resorted to corrupt practices and paid for publication of news during 2008 local elections in his favour, officials said. The new local elections are likely to be held in the central Indian state in December 2018.
Mishra, holding ministries of water resources, legislative affairs and public relations, is considered as number two in the government headed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
"I didn't give any money to the media. There is no evidence. My lawyer is studying the order. Will move to high court (if need be)," he told media.
The opposition parties have demanded his resignation.
India's poll panel has the power to disqualify a candidate if he files wrong account of his expenses.
