Pune: The Baner police registered a case against the son of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Baburao Chandere for violating the election code of conduct on late Friday night. Chandere, his son and 13 others allegedly visited several houses in the Someshwarwadi area of Pashan carrying voters’ lists and interacting with voters.Senior inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant of the Baner police said the group had attempted to unduly influence voters beyond the permissible campaigning hours.“A police team rushed to the spot after receiving information that the candidate was distributing money. The police, however, did not find any cash with them. They were carrying voters’ lists and other campaign material,” he said.Sawant said the police personnel pacified local residents and asked the candidate’s son and his associates to leave the area.When contacted by TOI on Saturday evening, Chandere did not respond to calls or text messages.Reacting to the case, NCP chief Ajit Pawar said on Saturday that the case was registered because the candidate and supporters were campaigning after the permitted time of 10pm. “I have instructed all candidates not to indulge in any activity that could be considered a violation of the code of conduct,” the deputy chief minister said.Pawar was addressing a press conference in the city, where he added that he issued the instructions after the case was registered.A video showing the candidate’s team visiting homes in Someshwarwadi was widely circulated on social media.
