New Delhi, Sep 19 (dna): In a decision that is bound to receive flak from the opposition parties, the Election Commission has found nothing objectionable in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat to be broadcast on September 20.

Several parties, including the Congress, the JD(U) and the RJD, had approached the Election Commission on Wednesday seeking suspension of PM's radio address 'Mann ki Baat' until completion of the Bihar elections. In a letter to the poll watchdog, they said that permitting Prime Minister to use the official mass media would give him and the BJP an unfair advantage.

Seeking permission, the ministry of information and broadcasting clarified on September 17 that the subject matter of Mann Ki Baat in no way violates the poll code as it is being addressed by the PM in his official capacity.

Responding to the secretary of ministry of I&B, the EC said, "the commission has no objection to the broadcast of the programme Mann Ki Baat over All India radio and Doordarshan subject to the condition that nothing be said therein that may be construed as inducement to voters or as having any impact in election bound state of Bihar where the Model Code of Conduct is in force from September 9 to November 12, 2015."

However, in a related matter the ECI has pulled up the ministry of railways on movement of special trains. Responding to a complaint by several MPs and leaders of opposition parties including K C Tyagi and Pawan Verma of JD (U), KTS Tulsi and Randeep Singh Surjewala of Congress and Manoj Jha of RJD for running special trains between Patna – Mumbai and Patna-Raipur at the behest of RSS functionary Sharad Joshi on 60% concessional fare, the EC has asked the secretary, Railway Board why permission was not taken in this regard even after the enforcement of MCC and ensure that no special concession be allowed in respect of any special train leaving from any station in Bihar or coming to any station in Bihar without prior permission of the EC until November 12, 2015.