Poll panel puts finmin on the mat

North Block will be asked to explain rosy growth announcement.

The Election Commission is believed to have taken "strong objection" to finance ministry's announcement on Tuesday showcasing a rosy picture of the government's achievements on the tax collection front, in violation of the model code of conduct for elections.

A letter from the commission seeking explanation from the finance ministry was expected to be sent tomorrow, Election Commission sources told Press Trust of India.

Finance Secretary DC Gupta and Revenue Secretary Vineeta Rai along with Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri held a press conference on Tuesday to reveal the provisional figures of direct and indirect tax collections for 2003-04.

Rai had said the total direct tax collections for 2003-04 had for the first time crossed the Rs 1,00,000-crore mark.

When Gupta was pointedly asked by media persons if the timing of the announcement had anything to do with the general elections, he said the meet was organised in view of several reports in newspapers on tax collections for the last fiscal. "We wanted to present the correct picture," he said.

Both Gupta and Lahiri were in Washington to attend the Fund-Bank meetings and not available for comment.