The Election Commission has conveyed its unhappiness to the Centre over announcement of its direct cash transfer scheme when the Model Code of Conduct is in force in poll-bound Gujarat and sought a report by today evening.

The EC also warned of appropriate action if the government's reply to its letter does not come by then. In a letter to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, the Commission expressed its unhappiness over the timing of the announcement by the government and said, it could have been avoided in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections later this month.

Incidentally, four of the 51 districts in which the cash transfer scheme is to be implemented from January 1 next, fall in Gujarat.

BJP's Gujarat unit on Thursday petitioned the poll body in this case, alleging a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Gujarat goes to polls in two phases on December 13 and 17.