NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday issued a fresh show cause notice to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for prima facie violating the model code of conduct by making alleged disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He has been given a day to reply to the notice.

The poll panel had received a complaint from the BJP that Sidhu, during a rally in Madhya Pradesh on April 29, had made disparaging comments about PM Modi.

He had reportedly accused the prime minister of "making money in the Rafale jet deal" as also "allowing" the rich to escape the country after "robbing" nationalised banks.

The poll panel had in April censured Sidhu for allegedly warning the Muslim community that efforts were on to divide their votes in Bihar, and barred him from campaigning for 72 hours.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections started on April 11 and would conclude on May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. So far, voting has been completed for five of the seven phases. Polling was held on Monday for 51 Lok Sabha seats spread across seven states in the fifth phase. In the first four phases, election was held to 91, 96, 117 and 72 seats on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29 respectively.

Polling for the sixth phase will be held on May 12. Voting for the seventh and last phase will take place on May 19.