The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday cautioned petroleum minister Veerappa Moily to be careful while making announcements in the future, stressing that statements like that of a hike in LPG subsidy cap sway the minds of electors.

On the eve of polls in Gujarat, Moily announced that the ruling Congress had plans to hike LPG subsidy cap from 6 to 9 cylinders per household per year.

Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath rapped the petroleum minister saying his announcement had violated the model code of conduct.

Moily tried to appease the EC by explaining that the plan was yet to be approved by the Cabinet and that he had only restated a proposal under consideration, but unsatisfied poll panel said that the statement was a clear violation of the model code of conduct.

Objecting to the statement, the EC said, "Your statement is tantamount to announcement of financial grant in the form of increased subsidy, and is a clear violation of the letter and spirit of the model code of conduct."

In Gujarat elections are scheduled to take place on 13th and 17th of December.

The government capped the number of subsidised LPG cylinders at six per household per year in September this year, as part of its efforts to hack soaring bill of subsidy and arrest widening fiscal deficit.