New Delhi: The Election Commission has set up a panel of officers to examine Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to nation to examine whether it violated the model code of conduct, which is in force for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The decision was taken after the poll body held an “internal consultation” on Modi’s address on India successfully testing an anti-satellite missile on Wednesday morning.

According to senior officials, the poll panel would seek a transcript of the Prime Minister’s speech from the government immediately and look into the “urgency” of the address.

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The timing of the test, conducted at 11.16am on Wednesday, and the announcement by PM Modi, an hour later, has come under question with several opposition parties alleging that it was done only for political mileage.

The Prime Minister had tweeted at 11.23am that he had an important announcement to make to the nation. There are indications that the Election Commission was taken by surprise with the announcement, made just a fortnight before the start of the Lok Sabha election.

Sources in the poll panel had earlier in the day told news agency PTI that issues related to national security and disaster management do not fall under the ambit of the model code of conduct.

”The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had met. Decisions taken by it and issues such as disaster management do not fall under the model code of conduct and require no prior nod,” a functionary said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. Only United States, Russia and China have tested anti-satellite missiles before India.

The government has justified the timing of Mission Shakti by saying that the test was done after acquiring the “required degree of confidence to ensure its success”.

The announcement triggered a political slugfest, with leaders of various opposition parties, including Congress, SP, BSP, TMC and Left, saying they would approach the Election Commission as it violated the poll code.