New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS): In more trouble for BJP leaders, the Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to the party's National General Secretary Arun Singh for making "unverified allegations through advertisements" against rival parties and candidates.

The poll panel has asked the BJP leader to respond to its notice before noon of January 31. The notice was issued on Wednesday. The EC action came in the wake of a complaint lodged by the Congress, which alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party issued advertisements in the print media making false, baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against it.

"The commission is prima facie of the view that by the said advertisement the Bharatiya Janata Party has violated provisions of the model code of conduct," the EC notice said.

The EC also cautioned the BJP against publishing the advertisement till the time a decision is taken on the issue. "The Commission, considering the gravity of the case, hereby directs that the advertisement in question shall not be repeated till such time a decision is taken," it said.

The notice has quoted the advertisement as saying that "15 saal Congress ki loot" (15 years of Congress' loot).