The Election Commission of India,ECI, today cautioned Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar against misuse of official machinery for political purposes in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The action against Sarkar was taken at a meeting of the Election Commission chaired by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath in New Delhi, after discussing the issue and the chief minister's reply to the allegations against him.

Sarkar was accused of giving an interview to a cable television channel on January 15th in his office in the Secretariat, where he made political comments praising his government and criticised the Opposition.

Considering the interview as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which was in force at the time, the Congress had complained to the ECI who asked Sarkar to explain his position.

Tripura goes to polls on February 14th to elect its 60-member assembly. The Model Code of Conduct was enforced in the state on January 11th, the day the poll body announced the schedule for elections.